Partizan player Cameron Payne plays during the EuroLeague game against Panathinaikos in Belgrade, Serbia, on February 5, 2026. (Photo by Maxim Konankov/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
Guard reinforcements are on the way for the Sixers.
The team is bringing back Cameron Payne for the rest of the season, a source confirms to Liberty Ballers. TeleSport was the first to report the signing. Payne had been playing in Serbia for Partizan Belgrade, reportedly agreeing to a buyout to return to the NBA.
After the dust settles from all the post-trade deadline roster moves, the Sixers will have two standard roster spots open — both currently occupied by players on 10-day deals in Charles Bassey and Patrick Baldwin. It appears Payne will slide into one of those spots. There’s no clear indication if the other spot will be used to convert two-way player Jabari Walker to a standard deal or further explore the buyout market.
Payne came to the Sixers at the 2024 trade deadline (along with a second-round pick) in the deal that sent Patrick Beverley to the Milwaukee Bucks. In hindsight, that move was an absolute steal as Payne provided much-needed offensive juice while Beverley saw an unceremonious end to this NBA career.
The 31-year-old Payne spent last season with the New York Knicks. This past offseason, the Knicks sought to upgrade that role with veteran Jordan Clarkson and former Sixer Landry Shamet. Payne was in camp with the Indiana Pacers ahead of the 2025-26 season, but was waived and then took his talents overseas.
The Sixers traded Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder for draft capital and also moved veteran Eric Gordon to the Memphis Grizzlies in a salary dump. The team went from a glut of guards to lacking depth as we saw last week when Quentin Grimes missed a pair of games because of illness.
Payne won’t solve all the Sixers’ problems, but he’ll add shooting and can competently run an NBA offense. He’s likely a better guard option than most of the players who were recently bought out. With Tyrese Maxey leading the NBA in minutes and VJ Edgecombe leading rookies in minutes, the team needed a better option than soon-to-be 40-year-old Kyle Lowry. They appear to have one in Payne.
Louisville Cardinals guard Mikel Brown Jr. (0) celebrates after hitting a three-point goal against NC State at the KFC Yum! Center in downtown Louisville February 9, 2026. | Matt Stone/Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Mikel Brown Jr. had become somewhat of a polarizing NBA Draft prospect throughout the 2025-26 college basketball season. Regarded as an elite shooter prior to his arrival at Louisville, Brown Jr. had been anything but that. Prior to last week, Brown Jr. was hovering at around 30% from three point range, while shooting under 40% from the field. Then in three games, Mikel did this.
Of course, this is a very small sample size and should be weighted accordingly. But as the people around the Louisville program will tell you, this is who Mikel Brown Jr. is. As coach Pat Kelsey said postgame after Louisville’s 82-71 win over Baylor in Fort Worth, “the back of his bubblegum card says he’s a phenomenal shooter. The law of averages starts to work out and the ball starts going in.”
On the court Saturday, it was very clear early on that Mikel Brown Jr. was the best player on the floor. It wasn’t just the offense either, as this steal on Cam Carr in transition was really well done.
Brown Jr. had several great moments defensively. As The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie pointed out, this was one of the best games Brown Jr. played on the defensive end this entire year. He was able to body up and guard one on one against a few really good Baylor athletes, including Carr and Tounde Yessofou. His five steals were a season high, and it really highlights just how active and engaged Brown Jr. was from the jump.
The thing that stood out to me, watching Brown Jr. in person for the first time, was just how fluid and smooth he was on the offensive end. His jumper is just remarkably pretty. The percentages are what they are, but if you watch Mikel play basketball you will have no questions with the shot. He’s also really smart with what he can do while driving the basketball. On the very first possession of the game, Brown Jr. drove the lane and looked to pass. However, he committed a turnover because he didn’t get deep enough in his drive, throwing the spacing off. Then when you turn around late in the game, he’s doing this to help stretch the lead.
It all totaled up to a 29-point showing, meaning he averaged a very tidy 37 points per game this week after a 45-point eruption on Monday. I was able to ask Pat Kelsey about Mikel Brown Jr., specifically with his approach to the game. The answer showed a team and a coach that deeply respects their true freshman guard who has quickly become their leader. Kelsey noted how Brown Jr. was really good at staying in his process throughout his struggles, even while recognizing that there was a level of frustration that he was feeling on himself. That’s the joy of shooters though, as you’ve sometimes just got to shoot your way out of it.
Kelsey continued
[Brown Jr.]’s been the quarterback on the floor. He’s being so much more vocal. I mean [J’Vonne Hadley] said it, I love the ownership that he’s taking on the floor. He’s the young guy, compared to some of these guys that are five or six years older than him in some instances, but he’s speaking up. He’s the primary voice in that huddle many times. Over the last three or four games, there’s been several instances where before I could call the next set, he would come over to me and tell me ‘here’s what we’re going to run,’ and I’d say absolutely. I love that when the point guard takes the ball, what time was the game today, three, and gives the ball back to you safe and sound at five. [He’s] got input, and even if it’s a set I don’t want to run, if he says it, we’re running it. Because I want the rest of the guys to know that that’s the quarterback on the floor. I’m proud of him, he’s growing in so many ways. A great teammate, phenomenal kid, just really proud of his growth.
When you get a coach who talks glowingly about a true freshman point guard, you sit up and start to get excited about what that player can develop into. This class has several of those, with Kingston Flemings and Keaton Wagler right there with Mikel Brown Jr.. For the Mavericks, who are in desperate need of a point guard to be Cooper Flagg’s running mate for the next decade, those words should be music to your ears. It could very well end up being an ice cream draft, where it all depends on what your favorite flavor is. But for my money, there might not be a better fit out there for the Dallas Mavericks than Mikel Brown Jr..
Victor Wembanyama, Jaylen Brown and Kawhi Leonard in action during Sunday’s round-robin tournament. Photograph: Mark J Terrill/AP
Basketball Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady flashed a look of disdain when recalling last year’s NBA All-Star Game.
“The All-Star Game that we witnessed last year was not an All-Star game,” McGrady told the Guardian. “I don’t know what that was.”
Prior to Sunday night’s contest, the All-Star Game had experienced years of disarray. In an attempt to make the game more competitive, the league replaced the classic East v West matchup and tinkered with multiple formats, including a playground-style selection process with team captains (Team LeBron v Team Stephen); and last year’s four-team tournament that featured a squad of Rising Stars who weren’t yet close to being actual All-Stars.
The results led to glorified shoot-arounds as players gave minimum effort on both sides of the court, eschewing defense while attempting a multitude of uncontested three-point shots and dunks.
In the latest move to increase competition, the NBA sought to entice players with something bigger to play for – global respect. Hence, this year’s “USA v World” format, which featured a three-team tournament between the up-and-coming Team USA Stars, the veterans of Team USA Stripes, and international players of Team World. The round-robin format included four 12-minute games and an overtime with a target score of five.
American-born players once held an imperialistic grip on basketball, particularly during the Dream Team era – Team USA defeated opponents by an average score of 43.8 points at the 1992 Olympics. But the gap between US and international players is closing each year. During the 2024 Paris Olympics, Team USA needed herculean efforts by LeBron James and Steph Curry to hold off France in the final minutes of the gold-medal game. And in the NBA, international players have won every MVP award since 2018, with James Harden the last American-born player to capture the league’s most coveted individual prize.
“The conversation that the international players caught up to us, the American players hear that,” McGrady said prior to Sunday’s tip-off. “It’s not the platform. It’s not the format. It’s the players that change that. So I think mixing it up like this, the world’s going to set the tone, and we’re going to see competitive basketball.”
Kevin Durant struck a more conciliatory tone on Saturday. He said that some All-Star games were just as lethargic decades ago.
“I just feel like fans and the media need something to complain about,” Durant said. “I don’t think it’s that big of a deal, to be honest … The last couple of weeks, I’ve watched the intro and at least the first quarter of every All-Star Game from, like, the 70s up until the late 90s. I wanted to see what the big deal was and if it was really that much intensity, like an [NBA finals] Game 7. The intensity the older generation has been talking about, I don’t know if I’ve seen it.”
During last year’s game, Victor Wembanyama appeared upset after his teammate Alperen Sengun allowed Jayson Tatum to throw down an uncontested game-winning dunk. Before this year’s game, the Frenchman said that the USA v World format should encourage the All-Stars to play for pride.
“We’ve seen that many of the best players have been increasingly foreign players,” Wembanyama said. “There is some pride on that side. I guess there is pride on the American side, which is normal. So I think anything that gets you closer to representing your country brings up pride.”
On Sunday, Wembanyama set the tone early by scoring the first seven points for Team World and finishing with a combined stat line of 33 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks in two games. His show of effort inspired other players to pick up the intensity, most notably, the 2026 NBA All-Star Game MVP, Anthony Edwards.
“Wemby set the tone, and it woke me up for sure,” Edwards said after Sunday’s games. “It was definitely competitive with all three teams. I feel like the old heads [Team Stripes] played hard too. They were playing really good defense.”
From tip-off of the first game, this year’s All-Star Game (or, technically, games) had a different energy. Players from Team Stars and Team World contested shots on defense, and embraced motion offense instead of a reliance on one-on-one scoring. In the final, the youthful Team Stars dismantled Team Stripes by a score of 41-25, led by Edwards, who finished with 32 points in three games.
Despite the rout, the players competed with purpose, and the league may have finally fixed a long-standing problem.
“I think it was definitely a step up in the competitive department compared to last season,” Durant said after the final game. “Hopefully, we just build upon this, and the weekend becomes more and more competitive. And the fans start to enjoy it more and more.”
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 14: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks poses for a portrait with the KIA Shooting Stars Trophy during the State Farm All-Star Portraits - 3PT Slam Dunk Shooting as part of NBA All-Star Weekend on Saturday, February 14, 2026 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 Zach Barron/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Two Knicks appeared on the All-Star “Game” on Sunday.
Neither won the thing, and only one made it to the final match.
This is the first time all season someone involved with New York has failed to win a meaningless title.
"I'm not going to say his name, but number 3 on the Knicks… he's the most annoying person ever."
“Yeah, I’m very excited to see him. I think he brings a level of toughness. From what I’ve seen, he’s been a great teammate. So I’m very excited. It’s a great opportunity for us and for him.”
On his “holy grail” outside of winning a championship:
“Honestly, I feel like my journey has been very different from most. I’m very thankful for it. It made me work extremely hard. It made me realize the opportunity that I’ve had. I’m still chasing a lot. I write my goals — long-term and short-term — at the beginning of every year, and I keep that to myself.”
On lessons learned from the Eastern Conference Finals loss last year:
“Never looking ahead. You want to focus on the task in front of you. After last year, you can’t just jump right back into where we were. You’ve got to go through the journey all over again. So it’s taking it one day at a time, step by step, not focusing down the road — just being present.”
On Jose Alvarado’s impact:
“He’s had a great impact so far with his energy — who he is on and off the court, what he brings to the table. He’s a great person to be around. He’s already impacting our team and it’s going to be great for the Garden. Fans are going to love him if they don’t already.”
On who he’d want on his podcast:
“I’m a big SVU fan — Mariska Hargitay.”
On who is his most annoying teammate:
“I’m not going to say his name. I’ll just say No. 3 on the Knicks is the most annoying person ever.”
On game-day mental preparation:
“I’m very routine-based. I try to stick to the same routine. My focus comes from preparing — not just game day, but the days leading up to it, the summertime, the work I’ve put in my entire life. Your confidence comes from your work ethic. That’s how I prepare.”
On podcasting advice:
“It’s talking to one of my best friends. We talk about things we want to talk about. We don’t have to answer every question people want us to answer. You can create your own narrative, say things you need to get off your chest. It’s its own platform. It’s something we didn’t think we’d want to do, and now here we are in year three. It’s fun. It’s unique. It’s a great opportunity, possibly life after basketball if we want to continue it.”
On his first NBA field goal:
“It was a dunk against the Lakers. It came off a Julius Randle turnover — Julius and D’Angelo Russell were fighting over the ball. It ended up in my hands, and I did a two-hand dunk, which I never do.”
On the possibility of Jason Tatum returning this season:
“He’s a very dangerous player in our league. Obviously, seeing him go down last year, it sucks to see. You never want to see that from anyone in any sport. But the fact that he’s worked so hard to get to where he is and is preparing to come back, that just speaks to who he is. Basketball fans around the world are excited to see him come back.”
Malika Andrews: "Y'all have now won at All-Star Weekend, the NBA Cup––is there a 3rd bigger one coming?
On representing the Dominican Republic and inspiring kids:
“I don’t think it’s pressure. I put the time and work into the gym and my craft, and I feel very confident every time I step on the court. I know this is bigger than me. I’m super happy I have the opportunity to show Dominican kids it’s possible — not only to get a scholarship, but to make the NBA. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention my mentors who showed me it was possible — Charlie Villanueva, Francisco Garcia, Felipe Lopez, Al Horford. It means a lot that I was able to take their teachings and continue to show the next generation that it’s possible.”
On Dominican culture influencing his game:
“The work ethic, the passion. Dominicans are passionate about family, about food, about having a good time. I translate that passion into my game. Every time I’m on the court or in practice, I’m passionate. I take the work serious. I look for quality over quantity.”
On international basketball and future opportunities:
“I love international basketball. It would be cool to see it grow and operate at a high level. Maybe one day be a part of it. There’s so much talent in the world. Making the NBA as one of 450 players is extremely difficult. Some guys fall through the cracks but have the talent and work ethic. It would be cool to see those guys get a chance to show their talents and live their dream.”
On comparisons between New York and Los Angeles:
“I love both. In New York, I’ve got my family — my father, grandmother, my whole Dominican family, my mom’s side too. In LA, my fiancée’s family is here. Happy mother-in-law solves a lot of problems.”
On the Knicks’ deadline moves:
“It’s unfortunate losing someone like Yabu, who was a big part of our locker room. But I’m glad to see him thriving in Chicago. Jose brings a lot of energy. It’s great to have someone who can jolt the game whenever we need it.”
On playing in the World Cup:
“It was really cool. I think it was the biggest World Cup attendance game of all time. Playing with my mother’s country on my chest, in a different atmosphere, not an NBA game — that’s something I won’t forget. I’m super happy our country got the win.”
On inspiring the next generation:
“It’s special. I’m honored to be in this position to show the next generation that it’s possible — to show them where I’ve been successful and where I’ve made mistakes, so they don’t make the same ones and can take this game and this flag to even greater heights.”
For a league taking L’s left and right this past week, at least the NBA can say they saved the All-Star Game.
A contest that had been mostly a disaster for roughly two decades received a much-needed facelift when it split USA players from the rest of the world into teams, who then played a round-robin of one-quarter games to determine the winner.
Veteran basketball pundits Zach Lowe and Bill Simmons explained on “The Bill Simmons Podcast” that while the NBA has failed to fix tanking, playing-time manipulation and game flow, at least the All-Star Game is watchable again.
Anthony Edwards won NBA All-Star Game MVP. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“It was a great bit of redemption for the NBA,” Lowe said on the podcast. “It was definitely the world’s better than two years ago when it was 211-180-something, and the five All-Star games before it were dunk, dunk, laziness. This was a fun game. There were fouls, blocked shots, buzzer beaters, and drama.”
“Team Stars” was a group of younger players that wound up winning after they defeated “Team Stripes,” which consisted of LeBron James and a group of veteran faces of the league.
“A huge win for a league that needed a win,” Simmons said while adding that he gave the new All-Star Game “two thumbs up” as the game at one point appeared to be heading toward NFL Pro Bowl status.
Where things get really dicey is tanking, injuries, schedule length and much more, as the league deals with questions about the relevance of the regular season.
Adam Silver’s legacy in the NBA will hinge on whether he can fix the league’s scheduling issues and tanking. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“If you’re judging [the job that Adam Silver has done as commissioner] by what the league is like competitively, this is about as bad we’ve been in since the early 80s,” Simmons said.
Simmons then goes on to list the problems with the league, adding that the season is too long and the second half of the regular season is mostly meaningless, with the only reason to maintain 82 games being money.
“This is why I was so hard on Silver,” Simmons said. “This is the most important decision of his entire career. If he can’t do this. If he can’t convince two separate groups of people that are tough to convince anything that the season has to be shorter and here’s all the reasons why… This is a crisis now.”
What hasn’t been fixed about All-Star Weekend is the Slam Dunk Contest, as several star young players have refused to participate in recent years, while the league taps G-League-level players to compete, despite them hardly being NBA-level talent.
Mac McClung, who has played in 10 career NBA games, won three consecutive seasons from 2023 to 2025, while Keshad Johnson won this year despite playing in 21 games as a rookie.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 31: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics looks to pass the ball against Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA Cup game at Xfinity Mobile Arena on October 31, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We’re about two-thirds of the way through the 2025-26 NBA regular season based upon games played, but the league’s All-Star break always serves as the arbitrary halfway point of the season. The vibes were way down for the Philadelphia 76ers, but we received a welcome respite over the weekend, getting to enjoy VJ Edgecombe shine in the Rising Stars Challenge and Tyrese Maxey’s coronation as one of the league’s top stars. Now, before regular season hoops get back underway, let’s zoom out a bit and take stock of where things stand in the Eastern Conference.
Race to the Bottom
Washington (14-39) Indiana (15-40) Brooklyn (15-38)
These teams are going to be jockeying with a handful of teams out West for top lottery odds in what is a stacked 2026 NBA Draft class. The Wizards have positioned themselves to compete next year, trading for Trae Young and Anthony Davis at their low points of their value, and having those former All-Stars sit out the rest of the way. They’ll hope to pair those two with promising youngsters Alex Sarr and Tre Johnson, plus whoever they take in this year’s lottery. The Pacers had always signaled taking a step back this season after Tyrese Haliburton tore his Achilles, even going as far as to let Myles Turner walk in free agency. Indiana did trade for Ivica Zubac at the deadline, but I imagine his sprained ankle is going to take a historically long time to heal. This is another club that will be looking to compete again next season. Meanwhile, Brooklyn is playing more first-year players than a Rising Stars roster. The Nets are on the long rebuild path, and they could be right back in this group a year from now.
Things Went Off the Rails in the Midwest
Milwaukee (23-30) Chicago (24-31)
These two clubs expected to be in the mix (towards the top half of the playoff bracket in Milwaukee’s case, and solidly in the Play-In in respect to the Bulls), but things have gone terribly wrong. In Wisconsin, Doc Rivers is pointing fingers everywhere except the thumbs pointing back at him, and the Giannis Antetokounmpo most passive aggressive trade request ever was comical, followed by his acting like he was taking the harder loyal path by sticking around. They have a roster built to operate around Giannis that doesn’t work one bit with him sidelined with a calf strain. Their current brand of no-defense will have them continue to lose games the rest of the way. If there’s a silver lining in Chicago, the Bulls finally, finally, finally embraced something of a rebuild, sending out Nikola Vucevic, Ayo Dosunmu and Coby White. They waited too long in all cases and didn’t get too much valuable in return, but maybe now Chicago will lose enough to get lucky in the lottery.
Frisky Futures
Atlanta (26-30) Charlotte (26-29)
The Hawks actually pulled the trigger on trading away Trae Young, fully embracing building around Jalen Johnson with a longer, more defensive-minded roster. I understood moving on from Kristaps Porzingis given the health concerns, but I’m not sure the Jonathan Kuminga experience would be something I wanted to sign up for. I suppose his value can only go up away from Golden State. Getting Jock Landale for nothing was a good deal, something I wished the Sixers had done. I don’t expect the Hawks to do anything of note this year, but they seem to have a clear vision going forward. Charlotte is one of the most entertaining League Pass teams out there. Rookie Kon Knueppel looks like the real deal, already ranking as one of the best outside shooters in the league. You can really see something with a young core of him, LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller. I also liked the buy low on Coby White at the deadline. If the Hornets could just excise Miles Bridges, I’d like rooting for this bunch.
Stuck in the middle with us
Miami (29-27) Orlando (28-25) Philadelphia (30-24) Toronto (32-23)
The Heat struck out in having a big star come to South Beach, as shockingly Tyler Herro and Pat Riley throwing his rings on the table wasn’t enough of a trade package for people. Erik Spoelstra is an excellent coach who will keep Miami afloat, but there’s just not enough top-end talent on the roster there to be true contenders. Orlando is one of the more disappointing teams this season. People loved to talk about the Magic prior to the season as a dark horse to come out of the East, but they don’t look anywhere near that level. Paolo Banchero certainly hasn’t taken the next step this season, and Orlando signaled they weren’t making a run by just doing a salary dump at the deadline.
Speaking of salary dumps, the Sixers only subtracted from their rotation earlier this month. Despite pretty good injury health from their injury-prone stars, Philadelphia’s front office didn’t want to push any chips into the middle to improve the current roster. With Paul George now suspended, the Sixers are a major injury or two away from their shallow roster making a real slide down the standings. Toronto is one of the most pleasant surprises this season, with a bunch of pretty good parts coalescing on a solid roster that plays hard every night. The Raptors didn’t do anything major at the deadline; they seem content to let this season play out, and remain in a good position to tweak the roster in future years.
Candidates to emerge
Cleveland (34-21) New York (35-20) Boston (35-19) Detroit (40-13)
The Cavaliers made the splashiest deadline acquisition, bringing in James Harden from Los Angeles. The Beard will certainly be an upgrade over an injured Darius Garland in the present. Was it the right move to trade away a young guard for a 36-year-old to make a push this season? I guess we’ll find out, but Cleveland certainly sensed the East is wide open and decided to go for it.
New York had a slide a little while ago that kicked off a bunch of Karl-Anthony Towns trade rumors. The Knicks have since righted the ship, and they plugged the hole created by Deuce McBride’s injury by acquiring Jose Alvarado. The Jalen Brunson-Towns defensive pairing issues will still present a problem for the Knicks in the postseason, but no one would be shocked if they were the squad to represent the East.
People posited that the Celtics might do a mini-tank this season with Jayson Tatum sidelined with an Achilles tear, but punishingly for Sixers fans, Boston has continued to churn out wins. Jaylen Brown and Derrick White ramped up their usage to good effect, and the front office brought in spare parts to round out the rotation. Management also showed it’s possible to both duck the tax and help the roster, as although the Celtics just made some salary-dumping trades, the swap to acquire Nikola Vucevic might mean their rotation is better than it was a month ago. If Tatum can make an improbable return later on (he recently practiced with the Maine Celtics), Boston would get upgraded to clear favorite.
Finally, Detroit is this year’s Cinderella darling, second best in the NBA in both record and net rating. Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren are young and ascending, and the Pistons have solid depth and complimentary pieces on the roster. The major argument against the Pistons would be that most of the roster hasn’t done it before in the playoffs (unless by “it” you mean Tobias Harris missing a million threes), but there always has to be a first time for young cores.
How do you size up the East? Let us know in the comments.
There might not be a player on the New York Knicks that represents the team’s identity more than Mitchell Robinson. The backup center has a modest stat line at All-Star break, averaging just 5.8 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game.
Those numbers don’t jump off the page, but Robinson is the secret weapon to New York’s championship hopes this season.
The Knicks are outscoring the opposition by 8.9 points per 100 possessions in Robinson’s 766 minutes on the floor this season according to NBA Stats, which is the second highest net rating on the team, only behind Miles McBride.
If the Knicks are going to reach their goal of making the NBA Finals, Robinson will be instrumental. A solid defender and quality rim protector, the big man has regained his defensive mojo after a slow start.
Even though his defense is effective, Robinson’s super power really is on the offensive glass.
Among players who have played at least 30 games, he is number one in offensive rebound rate. Teams still haven’t found a way to keep Robinson off the offensive boards, and many of his offensive caroms have led directly to open three-pointers for his teammates.
When Robinson’s on the floor, New York is collecting 40.8 percent of its misses, a number that would be first in the NBA. The Knicks have a 29.3 percent offensive rebound rate when Robinson sits, a figure that would rank 22nd in the NBA. That has helped juice the Knicks' offense, which is ranked third in the NBA, recording 118.9 points per 100 possessions.
Injury history
Robinson brings tools that no one else on the roster can provide, but it’s not all roses with him.
The eight-year veteran has a significant injury history.
Robinson has missed 16 games this season -- he sat out the first four games of the season and is not playing back-to-back games due to left ankle injury management. He’s also been out for a total of 139 contests over the previous three seasons.
It’s hard to rely on a player who is unavailable so often.
Robinson is in the final year of a four-year, $60 million deal. He’s eligible for a contract extension but the Knicks and the 27-year old center did not engage in substantive talks before the season, according to SNY’s Ian Begley.
Contract negotiations between the two sides seem a bit complicated. The seven-footer’s importance to the Knicks is hard to quantify, but the number one question would be if Robinson is unable to play back-to-back games the rest of his career? If not, that puts a cap on how much he can truly earn on the free agent market.
Also, the big man is limited on the offensive end. Some teams intentionally foul Robinson, who is shooting a career-low 40.8 percent from the free-throw line.
New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (23) warms up prior to the game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Madison Square Garden / Wendell Cruz - Imagn Images
At 19.6 minutes this season, Robinson has averaged 21.0 minutes over the last three seasons.
The Knicks already have Karl-Anthony Towns as a starter at center. Towns is set to make $57.1 million next year and has a player option for $61 million in 2027-28. It would be a significant amount of money to allocate to one position, and with New York brushing up against the second apron, there’s only much more scrutiny on each move the team makes.
Towns and Robinson have played 213 minutes together this season. The pairing has worked for the most part with a +5.4 net rating, but recently, it hasn’t been as successful.
Some of Robinson’s contributions have driven some of New York’s finest moments over the last few years. Robinson was the X-factor in the Knicks’ second round win against the Boston Celtics. He also proved vital in this year’s NBA Cup championship win, recording 15 rebounds, 10 of them coming on the offensive end.
Robinson is such a unique player that the Knicks are probably the best fit for him. With only a few teams having significant cap space, it’s more than likely that Robinson and the Knicks extend their partnership past this season either through an extension or in free agency -- but the playoffs will truly determine his future with the club.
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 14: (EDITORS NOTE: This image was created using a halo filter) Jaylen Brown #7 of Team USA Stripes poses for a portrait during the NBA All-Star Game Portraits as part of NBA All-Star Weekend on Saturday, February 14, 2026 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 Zach Barron/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
LOS ANGELES — Last week, Jaylen Brown shared an Instagram story that highlighted the Celtics’ record this year compared to last year.
The graphic, created by NBC Sports Boston, compared the 2024-2025 Celtics’ and the 2025-2026 Celtics’ record, net, offensive, and defensive ratings at the All-Star break, ultimately demonstrating how, remarkably, both teams’ on-court success were pretty comparable.
Both Celtics teams held the the second seed in the Eastern Conference at the break, as well as the NBA’s third-best net rating. This year’s Celtics have the better offense; last year’s more veteran team had the better defense.
Almost immediately, Brown’s post was widely criticized, with some fans perceiving it as a shot at Jayson Tatum, who has been sidelined all season due to an Achilles injury he suffered last spring.
But, Brown was perplexed about how that happened – how a post touting his team’s unlikely success turned into a negative thing.
“The thing I posted, that was about celebrating our group,” Brown told CelticsBlog in an exclusive conversation. “People make it seem like it was about me, because that’s what people wanted it to be about. But in reality, I’m just so proud of our group. I’m extremely proud.”
Back in July, the last time we extensively spoke 1-on-1, Brown told me that he expected to surprise the world ahead of a season in which few expected the Celtics to be competitive.
But, even he didn’t know that this level of team success was coming so soon.
The Celtics have the third-best record in the league since December 1st, and a litany of improbable victories. Earlier this month, for example, they blew out the Houston Rockets on the second night of a back-to-back in a game in which two-way player Ron Harper Jr. got his first career start — and the Celtics got a big-time win with Brown and Sam Hauser both sidelined.
So, it fills him with an immense amount of pride and gratitude to talk about the Celtics’ success so far.
“I believed that we were going to be fine, but even to me, it’s like, ‘Damn, we’re the second seed – one of the five best records in the whole league,” Brown said. “Only a few teams have a better record than us in the entire league. We’re a top-five team in the league, coming from the start of the season, when it was [supposed to be] a gap year.”
Brown can’t stop beaming as he talks about his group.
He appreciates that the Celtics have blown previous expectations out of the water, and enjoys gushing about how this season has been playing out.
But, in our lengthy conversation, he never brings up himself – not his own career-best individual season, nor his first-ever All-Star start, which he celebrated in Los Angeles.
For Jaylen Brown, this season has been about the young guys
What Brown has enjoyed most this season is seeing the Celtics organization at its best — watching unproven players like Jordan Walsh and Hugo Gonzalez tremendously impact winning. In his first two years in the NBA, Walsh had yet to break into the Celtics’ rotation, and Brown, a close friend of his, stayed in his ear, encouraging him.
He broke through this season en route to a career-year highlighted by 20 consecutive starts for Boston. Walsh is averaging 5.6 points in 18.5 minutes per game — both career-highs.
And, Gonzalez, drafted late in the first round and at just 19 years old, quickly became an impactful rotation player. As it currently stands, he has the best individual net rating of any player in the NBA. Few predicted that, at 19 years old, the Celtics rookie would be so impactful, so soon. But he’s been a critical part of multiple victories.
“As a leader, to see our guys finding their footing and flourishing, I’m prouder about that,” Brown said. “Just to see certain guys unsure about their roles, or their situation, and to see Jordan playing well, Hugo playing well in stretches. Like, they’ve helped us win games. I take pride in that. I’m proud of that.”
<p>Jaylen Brown and Hugo Gonzalez celebrate after Gonzalez hit a game-tying three-pointer against the Brooklyn Nets last month. </p><br> | NBAE via Getty Images
He’s especially in awe of the Celtics’ player development program, which, alongside Gonzalez and Walsh, has propelled players like Baylor Scheierman and Luka Garza toward career seasons. He shouted out each of the Celtics’ assistant and player development coaches, people who are integral to the Celtics’ team success, but rarely receive credit in the public eye.
“I’m extremely proud of our group, coaching staff included,” Brown said. “All the guys that put time and effort – Sham [God Shammgod Jr], Da’Sean [Butler], Ross [McCain], DJ [MacLeay] – all our coaching staff have done a really good job of developing guys.”
Brown is also adamant that Derrick White should have been an All-Star, and that starting center Neemias Queta is only beginning to scratch the surface of his ceiling. He’s been thoroughly impressed with how Anfernee Simons carried himself through his 49-game Celtics stint, and with how Payton Pritchard has handled an increased role as one of the Celtics’ primary scoring options.
So, Brown might just keep posting Instagram graphics that highlight just how good this Celtics team has been playing.
He emphasized that, alongside Tatum, they lost four other great players this offseason – Jrue Holiday, Al Horford, Luke Kornet, and Kristaps Porzingis.
And, he’s in awe of how the Celtics have adapted in the face of those veteran losses.
Brown also attributes some of the the Celtics’ success this season to a formative offseason conversation between himself and Joe Mazzulla, in which both candidly discussed their preferred approach for the year ahead.
“Before the season started, Joe had an idea of what he wanted, how he wanted to coach the team,” Brown said. “I had an idea of how I wanted to lead the team, and we kind of had to meet in the middle before the season even started. We had an idea of how we were going to both work together. Because if we don’t work together, if it would have been me not buying into Joe, none of this would work. Me being able to be on the same page with Joe has allowed us to be in the position that we’re in now.”
DETROIT, MICHIGAN – JANUARY 19: Jaylen Brown #7 talks with head coach Joe Mazzulla of the Boston Celtics against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on January 19, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Nic Antaya/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Jaylen Brown has found peace
At age 29, Brown understands that words and actions can be taken out of context. That’s part of why he started regularly Twitch streaming — so that he can address things head-on and elaborate on his perspective.
For example, in a recent stream, Brown spoke glowingly about Tatum’s rehab, and shared how much pride he has in his co-star for all the progress he’s made.
“If you hear me talk about anything in my most recent streams, I mentioned how proud I am of my team, I mentioned how proud I am of JT’s progression,” Brown said. “It’s all that type of stuff.”
Brown still finds it perplexing why his Instagram story had become controversial, though it’s far from the first time something like that has happened in his NBA career.
After a screenshot of his Instagram story blew up online, he ended up Tweeting it on his own account, with a simple caption emphasizing why he had highlighted those statistics: “I’m proud of this group and staff / office looking forward to 2nd half go Cs.”
I’m proud of this group and staff/ office looking forward to 2nd half go Cs ☘️ pic.twitter.com/I0cqxQTPYg
But, at this point in his career, he doesn’t worry too much when these kinds of things happen.
Tuning out the outside noise has brought him an inner peace.
“People have always tried to pick apart everything that I said,” Brown said. “And over the course of my career, I’ve tried to be very meticulous about it. I try to say as little as possible, I try to make sure that I’m not saying anything that’s gonna stir the pot. Now, I’m at this point in my career, and I’m like, I could care less.”
“People are going to infer whatever they want. It’s not in my control… I say how I feel. I say what I’m proud of. And, I’m proud that our team is doing great.”
What Brown does want to talk about is how incorrect the pundits and analysts were about how good this Celtics team could be.
“We were supposed to be tanking, that was the talk,” Brown said. “To be in the top five teams in the league? I’m proud of that. I’m extremely proud. Ain’t nobody can tell me nothing.”
It doesn’t matter how outside people might perceive that sentiment.
“I feel like the most peaceful I’ve felt this season is because I just stopped caring about all that stuff,” Brown said. “And that’s why I feel like I’ve been at the most at the most peace I’ve ever been at in my career, because I just stopped giving a fuck about what the media or what people feel about what I gotta say, or, you know, if they feel offended by something I said – whatever. I said it with the right intent. I said it to highlight something that I feel like is important to highlight.”
And, in this case, he won’t let the world forget about how wrong people were about this Celtics team.
“Everybody was calling it a gap year,” Brown said. “How do you go from a gap year to top five in the East? That’s a big jump. That’s not a small jump. People want to skip over that. I’m not gonna let you skip over it. That is a big deal.”
Most importantly, he thinks this Celtics team is only going to get better as the year continues. As it currently stands, they hold a half-game lead for second place in the Eastern Conference, with Tatum’s potential return looming.
And, he wants to keep talking about how they’re doing the improbable.
“I’m proud of our group,” Brown said, beaming. “And I would yell it from the top of this house.”
As Kevin Durant was playing in the NBA All-Star Game for the 16th time in his illustrious career on Sunday evening, allegations were circling online that the Houston Rockets star was behind a “burner” account trashing his current and former teammates in group messages on Twitter. It’s important to note that nothing has been confirmed on if it’s really Durant behind the account, but the entire Internet sure seems to think it’s him at the moment.
Do you believe KDF will address the burner of his @gethigher77 weird how all his friends in search engine are the ones who are responding to it and he goes in chats on it trashing teammates pic.twitter.com/ICzj2f912E
These screenshots show the account allegedly operated by Durant saying his All-Star teammate Alperen Sengun doesn’t shoot or defend, that Devin Booker got all the credit when the Suns won but he took all the blame when they lost, that he was questioned for holding Steph Curry accountable in film sessions, and calling Russell Westbrook a “triple-double cocaine bear.”
The header of Durant’s alleged burner account was the same as a photo he tweeted in 2021:
Durant is believed to operate this account because, a) people in his groupchats allegedly knew it was him, b) it sounds like his tweeting voice, and c) we already know he’s addicted to Twitter. It’s certainly possible that at least some of these images are doctored. It’s hard to verify anything on Elon’s internet.
kd was/is going stop to stop hoping a fanbase will finally adopt him LMFAO the common denominator is him arriving somewhere and not understanding why its natural for a fanbase to be more partial towards the existing talent that was there before him
I really hope not, but it seems possible. Durant will likely be asked about this when the season resumes on Thursday, but we may never get confirmation. We’ll keep this story updated as it develops.
Wisconsin-Green Bay men's basketball coach Doug Gottlieb had some harsh words for the officials after a 75-72 loss to in-state rival Wiscosnin-Milwaukee on Sunday, Feb. 15. And the tirade he unleashed rivaled any hot take he ever had on his former national radio show.
The Phoenix had the lead for most of a foul-plagued second half, but Gottlieb was particularly upset by a loose-ball foul called on his team's best player, CJ O'Hara, with 4:25 to go. The foul, with the Phoenix up by four, was O'Hara's fourth and Gottlieb felt it changed the course of the game.
After getting called for a technical foul earlier in the half, Gottlieb was further incensed when no foul was called as his player drove for a potential game-winning shot in the final seconds.
"You had the exact same play at both ends on the last play of the game," Gottlieb said to reporters, pausing momtarily before aggressively slamming his fists onto the table.
"The exact same (expletive) play!" he yelled, "The exact same play!"
Following UWGB’s loss to UW-Milwaukee on Sunday, 75-72, Doug Gottlieb gave an intense postgame speech on the late second half technical foul. Full story in comments. pic.twitter.com/MsOxU8LNYz
He also took issue with the technical foul, which came with just under seven minutes to play.
"So I need the new commissioner of the Horizon League to explain to me what a technical foul is when I don't leave the box, I don't curse, I'm not demonstrative," he said. "There is nothing, nothing, that should have been called a technical foul. I know when I earn one. I did not earn one."
Milwaukee converted 22 of 24 free throw attempts during the second half of the game − despite being one of the worst-shooting teams from the line coming in at just 68.5% on the season.
The loss dropped UWGB to 15-13 overall and a tie for third in the conference at 10-7.
"All we ask is that there's a fair game," Gottlieb continued. "I need ... our new commissioner to explain to me the disparity in the officiating. That's what I need explained to me."
Oct 6, 2025; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (left) and guard Kyrie Irving (right) watch the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half at Dickie's Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
The Dallas Mavericks are currently in the midst of their longest losing streak since before the calendar turned over to a new century. Having dropped nine straight games entering the All-Star break, Dallas is currently much better positioned for a high draft pick than they are for a Play In bid, and it’s becoming increasingly difficult to not find value in securing another young prospect come June.
Since that time, Irving has himself echoed the same sentiment. On Saturday during a Twitch livestream, he said an update would be coming post-All-Star break.
Kyrie Irving said via Twitch that an update on his recovery from ACL surgery will come after the All-Star break. pic.twitter.com/Ir1GYw8ZD5
It is unclear exactly why the update has consistently been targeted for after the All-Star game. Perhaps not wanting to distract from an important weekend for the league at large? Maybe an additional medical clearance is already scheduled for this timeframe? It might just be convenient timing relative to the unofficial second-half of the NBA season. Whatever the case, Irving afforded us some further insight and it may just be a spoiler for the answers we’ve been waiting for.
Kyrie speaks on his recovery from his injury:
“My rehab is going well. Whenever I’m 150% healthy, I’ll be back. I want to be better than where I was. So that's saying a lot. It’s a big hill to climb, but it's worth it.”
While Irving doesn’t give a day and date for his return, he specifically says “whenever I’m 150% healthy, I’ll be back.” It doesn’t take much searching online to find plenty of evidence that Irving is on the practice court, although not necessarily in five-on-five competitive scenarios. That, along with the “150%” desired level of recovery should give us pause that his return is not imminent, and possibly will not be this season.
As disappointing as this may be, it probably is for the best. Irving has always been in tune with his body and his overall game, and no one can question his dedication to the craft. The fact he wants to be better than he was should be music to Mavs’ fans’ ears. If we have to wait until Cooper Flagg’s sophomore season to see him paired with Irving, some measure of disappointment is warranted. However, the idea of Irving getting an entire second offseason of rehab before spooling back up in training camp and preseason has major appeal. The Mavericks’ shot at any post season play is slim at this point, so there is really no reason to get Irving back on the court with any immediacy.
With All-Star weekend having officially come to a close, we shouldn’t have to wait much longer for definitive answers.
I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.
DENVER, COLORADO - FEBRUARY 9: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers walks off the court during halftime at Ball Arena on February 9, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. 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 Chris Swann/Clarkson Creative/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers took a big swing at the trade deadline by swapping Darius Garland for James Harden. Initial returns are positive.
Harden showed up and blended in faster than anybody could have reasonably expected. His gifts in the pick-and-roll are obvious, and with them, Jarrett Allen is flourishing. Donovan Mitchell and Harden already have a burgeoning chemistry and have found each other in key moments. But the team is incomplete, and the regular season does not always resemble the playoffs.
Let’s dive into the details of what to watch as we evaluate the integration of James Harden down the stretch with an eye on playoff scenarios.
On offense
Offense is not just where James Harden excels, it is where the Cavaliers have struggled in the playoff series they have lost. Where could Harden help or hurt them?
One system or two?
We know Harden can run a pick-and-roll and will feed the bigs. We know he can get to the line. The greater question is how he will impact the overall flow of the offense.
In the Core Four era, the Cavaliers’ offense has looked its best when it was in continuous motion. They initiate, create advantages, the ball pops, and the defense never catches up. They’ve looked their worst when the ball sticks and the defense catches up and resets itself, or when they fail to break the shell and put the defense in rotation in the first place. We have seen the Cavaliers respond to this truth time and time again over the last four years.
Secondary initiators who lean towards isolation, like Caris LeVert and De’Andre Hunter, stop the ball and let the defense reset. Even though they are capable initiators, it isn’t an elite skill for them, and it’s not efficient enough. The Cavaliers ask them to adapt their game to motion, but ultimately trade them away.
Role players are asked to be decisive the moment they touch the ball. When three-point shooters don’t shoot, it allows the defense to reset. Every Cavalier role player is asked to develop another option for when they don’t shoot. Sam Merrill’s leap this season is largely based on developing a more effective drive and dish game after not shooting. Both Dean Wade and Isaac Okoro struggled to develop the same skills along the baseline. When they would hesitate or be reluctant to shoot, they would fall out of the rotation. Both improved, but doing so in the playoffs is what matters.
Jaylon Tyson’s leap is the embodiment of this philosophy. His emergence is based on a do-it-all skillset and being one of the most decisive players on the roster. The moment the ball touches his hands, he already knows if he is shooting, driving, skip passing, or doing dribble-handoff right back to Mitchell. The defense never resets when the ball reaches him. They barely get to break stride.
Even Evan Mobley is not immune to this philosophy. The first third of this season saw the Cavaliers experiment with Mobley as an isolation scorer. They would throw him the ball and let him go to work. The results were poor, and the effort was abandoned. The old philosophy returned. Mobley is still a key offensive hub, but the Cavaliers know they need to get him the ball on-the-move with the defense in rotation.
This style of continuous motion is not the norm for Harden. As he once famously declared, he is not a system player, but is the system himself. How true this is on the Cavaliers remains to be seen. Harden plays slow and probes a defense. He is by far the most capable player at this slower, isolation-heavy style that the Cavs have ever had in the Core Four era.
Will Harden be asked to adapt and play Cavs ball? Or will he, at times, be the system?
We have already seen him play faster with the Cavs. But will he move more off-ball? Will he keep the defense in rotation, or will he let it reset and probe it himself when the ball returns to him? If he allows defensive resets, will this mute the impact of the motion-related leaps Jaylon Tyson and Merrill have made? These are all open questions.
The Cavs could attempt to exclusively play their motion-heavy style and fit James in. The man can do it if he chooses. They could also embrace Harden-ball and effectively run two systems, switching between them based on personnel and situation, especially when Harden is on the floor without Mitchell. One system or two? The correct answer to this question is unknown. Having a clear approach is critical though. The Cavs have the rest of the regular season to figure out what they believe is best.
Size matters
There are two truths of playoff basketball:
The intensity, physicality, and ball pressure will ratchet up
The space will diminish
Whether it is because of a tighter whistle, specific gameplans, or a willingness to simply not guard certain players, these two truths play out every year.
The Cavs’ offense always looked best with Garland healthy because he is a gifted initiator and playmaker. Harden is too, albeit in a different manner. But there is one thing Harden is that Garland is not: He’s big.
At 6’5”, 220 lbs, Harden can seal off extra pressure and throw over and around double teams in a way that Garland and even Mitchell cannot. He does not especially need to Nash dribble his way out of the paint like Garland when the opportunity isn’t there. He can stop, wait for the collapse, and bruise his way to a passing angle or a foul. He can also punish and back down smaller guards who attempt to defend him. These are the key playoff elements to watch for as the regular season concludes. Can teams blitz and double well beyond the three-point line with Harden handling? Can Harden better navigate a crowded paint with both Mobley and Allen on the court or when defenses ignore the corner shooter?
An extra Cavs-specific size-related item to watch is whether or not James can draw the strongest perimeter defender with Mitchell on the court. There are very few defenders with both the size and strength to stop Mitchell at the point-of-attack. There aren’t many guys built like Lou Dort. If Harden can use his size to force defenses into using their physically strongest perimeter defender on him instead of Mitchell, then defenses all over the league should be concerned.
DENVER, COLORADO – FEBRUARY 9: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during the second quarter of the game against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena on February 9, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. 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 Chris Swann/Clarkson Creative/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On defense
James Harden is not known for his defense, and that isn’t where he is expected to impact the game. That said, there are two important items to watch.
Cross-matching
While Harden is not a great defender, he is better on-ball than you might think. It is actually off-ball where he is weaker.
One of the lessons of the playoffs two and three years ago was that constantly hiding Garland and cross-matching his assignment was hurting the overall defensive shell as well as the rebounding effort. As a result, the focus of last season was on not helping Garland as much on defense. The Cavs asked him to step up with effort, if not ability, and take on his assignments and hold his own when defenses target him. Garland was even asked to hold up in isolation in detrimental matchups like one-on-one against elite wing players like Jayson Tatum.
What will the Cavs ask of Harden? Will they return to constantly cross-matching? Will they bring help early and often to tag him out? Or will they ask James to step up on defense in the same manner they asked Garland?
Off-ball attention
This is the big one and the one that takes specific effort to focus on during a game. Harden has looked lost on defense many times in his first few games with the Cavaliers. He’s been drifting and in locations completely unrelated to his assignment. This is understandable for a new player on a new team. It is also a hallmark of the James Harden experience.
The question is an easy but important one. When teams get wide-open three-point attempts and free runs to the rim for offensive rebounds, how often is it because Harden does not know where he is supposed to be or what rotation he was supposed to make? How often is he simply not there? And how quickly does he improve at this, if at all?
The James Harden experience in Cleveland is already looking like a year-one success. The question is how high the ceiling can be and how it all translates to playoff basketball. If we watch with a close eye, we should get glimpses at the answer down the stretch of the regular season.
NEW YORK - JANUARY 25: Amare Stoudemire #32 of the Phoenix Suns looks to move the ball during the game against the New York Knicks on January 25, 2005 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The Suns won 133-118. 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 Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We have arrived at tier four, and up to this point, it feels like the temperature has stayed fairly steady. There have not a lot of pitchforks, not a lot of smoke in the comments, which makes sense when you think about how this has been rolled out.
Building the Phoenix Suns All-Time Pyramid has always lived on two tracks at once. One is that the top tiers and the group of players they include all have legitimate cases. Nobody is sneaking in through a side door. The other is the pacing of it all. Revealing this thing step by step makes it difficult to fully interrogate placement until more of the picture is visible, and that is intentional. You need the full shape before you start arguing about angles.
Once everything is out in the open, it is all going into one complete piece, and I am even toying with the idea of turning it into a small book that can live on my coffee table. Because an unreasonable amount of time, thought, and energy has gone into this project, and I want something tangible at the end of it. Something that proves this was real and not a prolonged basketball-induced fever dream.
Now that we are stepping into Tier 4, this is where the conversation is going to heat up. These are the names where you start sliding players up and down in your head, where you see someone here and wonder if they belong higher, or you look back at Tier 5 and feel the pull to move someone forward.
I have gone back and forth on several of these spots more times than I care to admit. And truthfully? I walk away still questioning where I ended up.
Tier 4. Revealed.
Yes, I can already see some of the folly in my ways, and I am comfortable saying that out loud. Tier 4 is labeled ‘Era Defining Stars’, and I am fully aware that I have two players here who occupied the same era, which on its face feels a little messy. You could easily make a case for someone like Mikal Bridges or Deandre Ayton landing in Tier 4 because they represent a recent era of success for the franchise, and I would not argue that framing outright.
Where I ultimately landed comes down to longevity and weight. Time matters here. Staying power matters. And in Ayton’s case, I do not see a path where he ends up among the greatest players in franchise history. If I were building a pyramid of disappointment, maybe he shows up there. But this project is filtered through my lens, my biases, and yes, a little bit of personal pettiness that I am not pretending does not exist. That is the privilege of being the one writing the thing, and in this case, I am owning it.
So this is the list. Amar’e Stoudemire. Paul Westphal. Dan Majerle. Alvan Adams. These are the names. Now let’s talk about what they did while they were here, how they shaped their eras, and why each of them earned this tier-defining designation.
Tier 4: Era-Defining Stars
Alvan Adams was one of the trickiest placements in this entire exercise, and I went back and forth on him more than almost anyone else. At one point, I had him a tier higher, leaning heavily into the idea that longevity should carry real weight in a project like this. At another moment, I had him a tier lower, sliding Jason Kidd into this spot and telling myself that peak impact mattered more.
Eventually, this is where Adams landed, and that decision is rooted in value, even if it took a while to get comfortable with it.
There is a delicate balance between longevity and productivity, and Adams sits right in the middle of that conversation. He was around forever by Suns standards, a foundational piece of the 1976 NBA Finals team, a Rookie of the Year, an All Star, and a player who mattered from the moment he stepped into the league. At the same time, his most effective stretch came early, and as his career progressed, the production slowly tapered. That reality is part of his story.
People who watched him closely will tell you he was a very good player, a smart player, but also one who embodied the limitations of the Suns during that era. In a league where size was currency, he was not overpowering physically, and that shaped both his role and his ceiling.
None of that diminishes what he meant to the franchise.
Statistically, his fingerprints are everywhere. He is first all-time in games played with 988, a massive gap of 222 games over second place. He is first in minutes, rebounds, steals, and fouls, third in points, third in assists, and fourth in value over replacement.
The big kid out of Oklahoma spent 13 seasons in Phoenix, the only NBA home he ever knew, and that matters more than it sometimes gets credit for. As this project progresses, you’ll find loyalty is something I value. His major accolades came early in his inaugural 1975-76 season, but his presence stretched all the way to 1988, bridging eras and teammates from Dick Van Arsdale to Kevin Johnson.
That continuity matters. His longevity matters. His place in the fabric of the organization matters. When I weighed everything, that is what ultimately kept him here in Tier 4. I spent a lot of time considering Jason Kidd in this spot, and that debate stayed close until the end, but in the final tally, this tier belongs to Alvan Adams.
Some of you might blink when you see Dan Majerle this high on the list, and at the same time, I know plenty of you nodded along without hesitation.
If you were around in the early 90s, you already understand. Dan Majerle was a vibe. He was grit and sweat and flying elbows. He was a defender who took assignments personally, a three-point shooter who showed up before the league fully knew what to do with that archetype, and he carried one of the great nicknames in Suns history. Thunder Dan.
How much of a vibe was he? Enough that it bled into real life. My uncle Steve Voita, a Valley artist who fed five boys through creativity, long nights, and sheer will, once painted Dan Majerle on the side of his 1985 Chevy K5 Blazer (which he still owns to this day) with the words “Feel the Thunder” running alongside it. That truck rolled around Phoenix like a moving shrine.
That is the kind of imprint Majerle had on this city. He was not only a player you watched, he was something you felt.
When I asked my uncle why he did it, he stated, “How could I not? The Traverse City kid with deadly three-pointers capitivated the whole Valley, at critical clutch moments he lit it up. Thunder Dan’s defense against the best in the game was refreshing and relentless, the kids loved him from the start.”
“Daddy, daddy, please paint Thunder Dan on our Blazer,” he added, noting how my cousins spawned the idead. “They pleaded and how could one of Americas best sports artist say no? The kids made me park extra long at school everyday so all the other kids knew who the real Suns fans were, honking cars and anywhere the Blazer went was cheers and screams of ‘Go Suns!’”.
And the numbers back up the feeling. Majerle ranks fifth all time in steals in franchise history and tenth in win shares, but what really stands out is how far ahead of his time he was. He was the first true three-and-D guy I ever remember watching.
He sits third all-time in Suns history in made three pointers, and the last one he hit came back in April of 2002. Yeah, the league has changed since Majerle played, but the Suns still haven’t caught up to what he was doing 30 years ago. In the 1994-95 season alone, he knocked down 199 threes, only 27 shy of the franchise record that Quentin Richardson set a decade later. That was revolutionary stuff at the time.
Majerle spent eight seasons in the Valley, the first seven defining the core of his career. During that run, he earned three All-Star selections, made two All-Defensive Second Teams, and finished second and third in Sixth Man of the Year voting across the early nineties. He was eventually moved as the franchise reshaped its future, then returned in 2001-02 as a 36-year-old veteran coming off the bench, still defending, still spacing the floor, still Thunder Dan.
He helped define an era of Suns basketball from 1988 through 1995. Dan Majerle was not a footnote. He was a tone setter. He was culture. And whether it was on the court or painted on the side of a truck, Thunder Dan will always be a vibe in Phoenix.
This list is strictly about players, the ones who actually took the floor and wore the uniform, so owners, commentators, and coaches are left out by design. Paul Westphal is the rare exception in spirit, not in rule, because he managed to define eras in two different roles, first as a player and later as a coach.
Plenty of former Suns went on to coach, but none of them reached the heights Westphal did when he led the team to the 1992 93 NBA Finals, which is where my personal relationship with him began, stepping in for Cotton Fitzsimmons and guiding a team that had been circling the summit without quite getting there.
Still, this is not about the coach. This is about the player, and Paul Westphal, the player, was outstanding in a Phoenix Suns uniform.
He spent six total seasons in Phoenix, with the first five from 1976 through 1980 being the stretch that truly defines him. He did return for one final season in 1983-84, but his prime lived firmly in those earlier years, and those were the best seasons of his career.
His peak came in the 1977-78 season, when he averaged 25.2 points per game, and his 809 made field goals that year still rank second all-time in a single season for the Suns, trailing only Tom Chambers. That same season, Westphal averaged 29.2 points per 36 minutes, which remains the top mark in franchise history.
It is hard not to drift into a little basketball imagination when you think about Westphal’s game. He played almost his entire prime before the three-point line existed, and by the time it arrived in 1979, we only got one real season to see how he might have adapted. He attempted 93 threes that year and made 26, a 28% clip, which does not jump off the page, but that hardly tells the story. Westphal was one of the best shot makers the Suns have ever had, a true craftsman with footwork, angles, and touch.
Going back through film, the ease with which he turned and banked shots, the confidence he had taking attempts players rarely even consider today, it all feels surgical. He was a tactician, someone who understood space and timing at a level that feels timeless.
His first season in the Valley set the tone. He arrived and immediately helped lead the Suns to the 1976 NBA Finals, falling short of a title but announcing that something real was being built. From there, he kept producing, year after year.
He ranks eighth all-time in Suns history in assists, sixth in steals, averaging 1.6 per game, and logged 465 games played in Phoenix. His scoring average of 20.6 points per game places him ninth all-time, and he owns the second-highest single-season steals total in franchise history, swiping 210 in the 1975-76 season while averaging 2.6 per game.
We know what Paul Westphal meant to this franchise, and that meaning stretches beyond numbers, but the numbers alone are more than enough. During his first five seasons with the Suns, he never played fewer than 80 games in a year, a level of durability that feels almost mythical now. He was an Iron Man, a leader, a uniquely gifted scorer, and a foundational figure in Suns history.
Tier 4 feels not only appropriate, but unquestionable. Paul Westphal was an era-defining star, steady, brilliant, and essential to understanding what this franchise became.
Now it gets interesting, because this is where I know some of you are already moving names around in your head. Amar’e Stoudemire is one of those players who tends to drift upward the further we get from his playing days. Time has been kind to his legacy, and for good reason, because who he was in Phoenix was a physical, imposing force, a big man who attacked the rim with a level of violence and intent that this franchise has not really seen since he left in 2010.
He arrived as a rookie and immediately made his presence known, winning Rookie of the Year by living in the paint and daring defenders to meet him there. Who can forget the highlight dunks and the names plastered on the posters as they looked upwards as STAT came down upon them. Michael Olowokandi. Josh Smith. Anthony Tolliver.
As his career progressed, his game expanded. The jumper came along. The touch improved. And suddenly, he was not only finishing plays, he was punctuating them. The Steve Nash to Amar’e Stoudemire pick-and-roll became a nightly event, a reliable source of chaos for opposing defenses and a defining image of an era.
Standing tall and talented indeed, Stoudemire was one of the stars who defined the Seven Seconds or Less Suns. That style does not exist without him. The spacing, the pace, the freedom. All of it worked because Amar’e applied constant pressure. He was always threatening the rim, always forcing rotations, always pulling the defense inward. The team that helped reshape modern basketball had him at the sharp end of the scoring spear.
The 2004-05 season tells that story loud and clear. Stoudemire scored 2,080 points, the third-highest single-season total in franchise history. He made 7.3 free throws per game on 9.9 attempts, both the highest marks in Suns history for a single season. His offensive win shares that year were the best the franchise has ever seen, and he led the league in two-point attempts per game.
Zooming out to his full eight seasons in Phoenix, the résumé stays heavy. He ranks third all-time in rebounds, fifth in blocks, and seventh in total points. His 21.4 points per game sit sixth all-time in franchise scoring average. He is second all-time in free throws made per game at 5.9 and second overall in player efficiency rating. Calling him an offensive juggernaut barely scratches the surface of what he was at his peak.
So why is he not in Tier 3? That comes down to preference and definition, and it is something I will unpack more fully when we get there. Because Amar’e Stoudemire absolutely deserves his place high on this pyramid, and where exactly he lands says as much about how you value eras, longevity, and impact as it does about the player himself.
How are we feeling through three tiers with three left to go?
Mad respect to those who put this list of every assist he ever made.
His first assist was to PJ Brown and his last to Yanic Konan Niederhäuser. Here is a list of every player Chris Paul has assisted during his career (regular season and playoffs):
Blake Griffin – 1318 David West – 1188 JJ Redick – 701 Andre Jordan – 633 Deandre Ayton – 512 Peja… pic.twitter.com/LJ5UMCD60U
The way Chris Paul unceremoniously separated from the Los Angeles Clippers is unfortunate. It is widely believed he deserved better.
His final full season was with the San Antonio Spurs. I know many Pounders, myself included, had reservations about his fit with the Silver & Black, considering what a thorn he’d been in our side over the years as an opponent.
Alas, he was exactly what was needed for the young team. He exemplified leadership for Victor Wembanyama, he showed how to anchor an offense to Stephon Castle, and he offered the veteran presence]as they began to shape their future.
Throughout his career, Paul made the teams he played for better. During the Phoenix Suns only Finals trip this century, Paul was at the helm giving Devin Booker the support he and the team needed to make the leap.
While with the Spurs, Paul hit two of his career achievements, moving second all-time in assists and steals. In both he surpassed Jason Kidd and landed behind John Stockton.
His final All-Star appearance was also Victor Wembanyama’s first. The duo made waves in the Skills competition, effectively shutting it down for the foreseeable future.
There’s always hope that CP3 will find a home as an assistant coach. With his wealth of knowledge and his connections in the NBA, he’s bound to help another team improve their game.
Thank you, CP3!
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