Why Jimmy Butler hilariously doesn't want fans to vote him to NBA All-Star Game

Why Jimmy Butler hilariously doesn't want fans to vote him to NBA All-Star Game originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Jimmy Butler hasn’t been an NBA All-Star since 2022, and the Warriors forward doesn’t want that streak to end this season.

The Warriors, on Monday, began their social media campaign to get Butler to the 2026 NBA All-Star Game at Inuit Dome in Los Angeles.

But Butler commented on the post, telling fans he’d rather go on a tropical vacation than go to LA for the midseason showcase.

“Don’t vote for me guys,” Butler wrote on Instagram. “Instead somebody create a gofundme to send me to Barbados. ❤️❤️❤️. Thanks in advance. GO WARRIORS.”

Butler is having a solid season, averaging 19.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 25 games this season, but in a deep Western Conference, he likely faces an uphill battle to make the All-Star roster.

If Warriors fans rock the vote and send Butler to LA, he surely can plan a Caribbean vacation for next summer.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Knicks open to moving Guerschon Yabusele ahead of 2025 NBA trade deadline

The Knicks are open to moving Guerschon Yabusele ahead of the 2025 NBA trade deadline, as first reported by James L. Edwards of the Athletic

SNY’s Ian Begley has confirmed the report.  

Yabusele’s time in the Big Apple hasn’t quite started as planned. 

The big man has struggled to find his footing over the first two months, averaging under 10 minutes per game after being the Knicks’ biggest free agent addition this summer. 

He’s seen his numbers drop off on both ends of the floor, producing just 3.0 points and 2.2 rebounds on 39.4 percent shooting from the field through 26 games.

Yabusele is making $5.5 million this season and has a club option for next year. 

League executives told Edwards that the Knicks will likely have to give up other assets for another team to take on his contract. 

Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire: Bub Carrington showing out

We’re heading into the last full week of 2025, and there are plenty of useful options available on the waiver wire.

Washington’s second-year PG has emerged as a multi-faceted producer, while another young guard in Orlando has stepped up with multiple teammates sidelined.

Backup guards are the theme of this week’s waiver wire column, and guys in Utah, Houston, Sacramento and Memphis have offered strong numbers off the bench.

Big men get some love this week too, as Brook Lopez is back in our plans with Ivica Zubac on the shelf for the next three weeks and Jock Landale filling in admirably for Zach Edey.

Watch the NBA on Peacock on Monday night, as the Cavaliers host the Hornets at 7 p.m. ET before the Grizzlies and Thunder square off in Oklahoma City at 9:30 p.m. ET.

Here are the top fantasy basketball waiver wire adds for Week 10.

NBA: Miami Heat at New York Knicks
Ware had an outstanding Week 9, culminating with a 28-point, 19-rebound effort against the Knicks.

Priority Adds

1. Bub Carrington
2. Anthony Black
3. Isaiah Collier
4. Reed Sheppard
5. Dennis Schroder
6. Cam Spencer
7. Jake LaRavia
8. Brook Lopez
9. Jock Landale
10. Dominick Barlow

Reed Sheppard, Houston Rockets (42 percent rostered)

Sheppard is still available in nearly 60% of Yahoo! leagues, and he should be added wherever he can be found. Over his last four contests, he’s averaged 17 points, 2.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.8 blocks and 4.0 triples across 30.8 minutes. Sheppard has a secure role as one of Houston’s first guys off the bench, and he’s shown that he’s more than just a three-point specialist.

Anthony Black, Orlando Magic (30 percent rostered)

Black has been great over his last 10 games, seeing an expanded workload with multiple key players injured. In that span, he’s averaged 16.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.7 blocks and 1.2 triples across 33.2 minutes. Black has started four straight, and he should be in line for more run with the first unit until Franz Wagner or Jalen Suggs return.

Dennis Schroder, Sacramento Kings (30 percent rostered)

Schroder has been coming off the bench in favor of Russell Westbrook at starting PG, but the former has been a strong option off the bench. Over his last two, Schroder has averaged 22.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 8.0 assists, and he hit the game-winning triple in Sunday’s overtime victory against the Rockets. With Zach LaVine sidelined, Schroder should continue to see meaningful minutes off the bench.

Cam Spencer, Memphis Grizzlies (25 percent rostered)

Spencer has been tremendous in recent games, averaging a whopping 19.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, 6.7 assists, 1.0 steals and 4.0 triples across 29.2 minutes. He started Saturday after returning from a one-game absence and delivered a 19/4/11 line across 37 minutes. Spencer may see his role reduced when Ja Morant and/or Vince Williams return from their respective injuries, but he’s done enough to earn additional playing time and should retain standalone value when that happens.

Bub Carrington, Washington Wizards (19 percent rostered)

Carrington has taken on a substantial workload for the Wizards, starting six straight games and logging 37 minutes a night. In that span, he’s averaged a healthy 17.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 3.0 triples. Washington may start to get healthy, but even when that happens, the Wizards would be wise to prioritize development over winning. Carrington has done enough to earn big minutes moving forward, and fantasy managers should add him now.

Isaiah Collier, Utah Jazz (15 percent rostered)

Collier should continue to come off the bench behind breakout Keyonte George, but the former has been great off the bench. As of late, he’s been particularly effective, posting averages of 12.8 points, 2.3 rebounds and an eye-popping 9.5 dimes across 27.8 minutes. He’ll likely continue coming off the bench, but he’s an excellent source of assists for managers in need of that scarce category.

Jock Landale, Memphis Grizzlies (12 percent rostered)

Over his last five games, Landale’s production has ticked up in the absence of Zach Edey. In that span, the backup big man has averaged 11.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.8 blocks and 1.2 triples. He should stay involved in the Grizzlies’ frontcourt for as long as Edey is sidelined, making him a worthwhile addition in standard fantasy leagues.

Dominick Barlow, Philadelphia 76ers (10 percent rostered)

Barlow has been a regular member of the Sixers’ starting five all season, but he’s picked up his production over his last four outings. In those contests, Barlow has averaged 13.3 points, 5.8 boards, 1.3 dimes, 1.0 steals, 0.8 blocks and 0.5 triples. Philadelphia is one of the most injury-riddled teams in the Association, and Barlow should continue to see opportunities for as long as he’s available.

Jake LaRavia, Los Angeles Lakers (4 percent rostered)

LaRavia posted a double-double on Saturday night, as he and LeBron James were the lone bright spots in an ugly Lakers loss. Luka Doncic went down with a leg injury in that game, and now he, Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura are banged up. LaRavia could be in line for big minutes if any of the three are forced to miss time moving forward. Marcus Smart remains a savvy add, too.

Brook Lopez, Los Angeles Clippers (4 percent rostered)

Ivica Zubac left Saturday’s win over the Lakers with a left ankle injury, and Lopez saw a season-high 25 minutes. In his expanded time on the court, BroLo finished with 11 points, five rebounds, two blocks and three triples. Zubac is expected to miss at least three weeks, and Lopez should be a useful option thanks to his three-point shooting and shot-blocking abilities.

Other options:Wendell Carter Jr. (36%), Saddiq Bey (35%), Maxime Raynaud (28%), Jaylon Tyson (28%), Mitchell Robinson (16%), Robert Williams III (7%), Noah Penda (1%)

Bulls beat Hawks 152-150 in highest scoring game in NBA this season (and they didn't need overtime).

Defense? Who needs it?

Not the Chicago Bulls or Atlanta Hawks, who combined to score 302 points in regulation on Monday, a 152-150 win — just the eighth time in NBA history teams scored more than 300 points in regulation.

Trae Young scored 35 points and nine assists to lead the Hawks in the loss. Jalen Johnson added 36 points with 11 rebounds and nine assists.

"It's kind of tough winning games when you give up 80 points in the first half," Johnson told the Associated Press. "It's kind of embarrassing in a sense. …. Hopefully we cut down on some of the things we're doing."

The last time a team scored 150 points in a game was November of 2023 — and it was Atlanta then, too.

Chicago was led by Matas Buzelis, who scored 28 points, but it was a balanced attack with nine Chicago players in double figures. Josh Giddey had 19 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds, one short of a triple-double.

How to watch Memphis Grizzlies vs. Oklahoma City Thunder: TV/live stream info, preview for tonight's game

Head to Peacock tonight for an exciting NBA doubleheader. The action starts at 7:00 PM ET with a Charlotte Hornets vs Cleveland Cavaliers showdown. Then, at 9:30 PM, it's the Memphis Grizzlies vs Oklahoma City Thunder. See below for additional information on how to watch both games and follow all of the NBA action on NBC and Peacock. Peacock will feature 100 regular-season games throughout the course of the 2025-2026 season.

Click here to sign up for Peacock!

nbc_roto_johnson_251219.jpg
Christmas Week is always somewhat awkward in fantasy basketball because of the unusual schedule.

Memphis Grizzlies:

The Grizzlies are coming off a 130-122 loss to the Washington Wizards on Saturday. Santi Aldama led the way for Memphis with a career-high 37 points and 10 rebounds. Jaren Jackson Jr. finished with 22 points and 8 rebounds, while Cam Spencer added 19 points and 11 assists.

Memphis has been hampered by injuries this season, with Zach Edey and Ty Jerome expected to miss several more weeks.

Oklahoma City Thunder:

The Thunder fell 112-107 to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night, picking up their third loss of the season. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a game-high 35 points, finishing with 7 assists and 5 rebounds in the loss. Jalen Williams added 17 points and 7 boards, while Chet Holmgren and Ajay Mitchell each added 14.

Despite the loss, the Thunder are off to the best 28-game start that the league has seen since the 2015-16 Warriors (27-1), who won an NBA-record 73 regular-season games.

How to watch Memphis Grizzlies vs Oklahoma City Thunder:

  • When: Tonight, Monday, December 22
  • Where: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
  • Time: 9:30 PM ET
  • Live Stream:Peacock
NBA: Emirates Cup-Semi Finals-San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma City Thunder
There are five marquee matchups featuring four of the past six league champions.

What other NBA games are on tonight?

Charlotte Hornets vs Cleveland Cavaliers - 7:00 PM ET on Peacock

How to watch the NBA on NBC and Peacock:

Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones.

Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.

How to sign up for Peacock:

Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You'll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC & Bravo hits—Peacock is here for whatever you’re in the mood for.

NBA on NBC 2025-26 Schedule

Click here to see the full list of NBA games that will air on NBC and Peacock this season.

What devices does Peacock support?

You can enjoy Peacock on a variety of devices. View the full list of supported devices here.

How to watch Charlotte Hornets vs. Cleveland Cavaliers: TV/live stream info, preview for tonight's game

Tonight's Peacock NBA Monday doubleheader tips off at 7:00 PM ET when the Charlotte Hornets head to Rocket Arena to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers. Then, at 9:30 PM, the Oklahoma City Thunder host the Memphis Grizzlies. See below for additional information on how to watch both games and follow all of the NBA action on NBC and Peacock. Peacock will feature 100 regular-season games throughout the course of the 2025-2026 season.

Click here to sign up for Peacock!

nbc_roto_johnson_251219.jpg
Christmas Week is always somewhat awkward in fantasy basketball because of the unusual schedule.

Charlotte Hornets:

The Hornets are looking to bounce back after falling 112-86 to the Detroit Pistons on Saturday night. Miles Bridges and Kon Knueppel each scored 19 points in the loss. Knueppel, who was drafted fourth overall by the Hornets in 2025, is currently second on the team in scoring and leads all rookies with 19.4 points per game.

The Hornets (9-19) are 12th in the Eastern Conference and look to avoid their ninth losing season.

Cleveland Cavaliers:

The Cavaliers have lost their last three straight games, most recently falling to the Chicago Bulls in back-to-back contests last Wednesday (127-111) and Friday (136-125). Cleveland has had to adjust for much of the season while dealing with injuries to several key players. Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and Jarett Allen have only played together in 4 of 29 possible games this season.

Mitchell, who leads the Cavaliers with an average of 30.7 points per game, missed Friday's game with an illness and will be a game-time decision tonight.

How to watch Charlotte Hornets vs Cleveland Cavaliers:

  • When: Tonight, Monday, December 22
  • Where: Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH
  • Time: 7:00 PM ET
  • Live Stream:Peacock
NBA: Emirates Cup-Semi Finals-San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma City Thunder
There are five marquee matchups featuring four of the past six league champions.

What other NBA games are on tonight?

Memphis Grizzlies vs Oklahoma City Thunder - 9:30 PM ET on Peacock

How to watch the NBA on NBC and Peacock:

Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones.

Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.

How to sign up for Peacock:

Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You'll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC & Bravo hits—Peacock is here for whatever you’re in the mood for.

NBA on NBC 2025-26 Schedule

Click here to see the full list of NBA games that will air on NBC and Peacock this season.

What devices does Peacock support?

You can enjoy Peacock on a variety of devices. View the full list of supported devices here.

Warriors' Draymond Green shades Wizards while recalling courtside trash talk

Warriors' Draymond Green shades Wizards while recalling courtside trash talk originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Draymond Green will never back down from a little trash talk.

In his latest episode of “The Draymond Green Show,” Green responded to some fan mailbag questions. One asked: “What’s the best back and forth you’ve had with a fan courtside?”

He pointed to one game at the Washington Wizards.

“I think one of the best had to be in DC a few years back. I was sleepwalking, and them guys got me going,” Green said. “I finished the game with 24 or something like that. We went on to win.”

Green said it was after the Warriors beat the Celtics in the Finals, so that would point to Golden State’s 127-118 win over Washington on Jan. 16, 2023. Green finished with 18 points.

Although his point estimate was a bit off, Green did turn it on in the fourth quarter, scoring 11 of the Warriors’ 34 points in the final frame.

He made sure the Wizards’ fans who were talking to him knew he was grateful for the motivation in an arena that wasn’t giving him much in the first place.

“They were like, ‘Draymond, you’re a bum, you’re this, you’re that.’ Like, oh really? Thank you for getting me going in this dead ass gym – that is the Washington Wizards’ home arena,” Green explained. “Thank you, I’m about to bust y’all’s ass now, and I politely did, and they shut the hell up and they did not want to talk anymore.”  

“And it was absolutely incredible. I mean every play – offensively and defensively.” 

Even Warriors owner Joe Lacob chimed in on the trash talk

“That was right after we beat Boston in the Finals. And then Joe Lacob was like, ‘Alright, guys, we’re going to Boston next, I’m [going to] put you on a plane to Boston, let’s go,’” Green recalled. 

The Wizards had an eight-point lead with 9:30 remaining in the game, but the fans’ trash talk might have doomed their team by waking up Green and company.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Hugo Gonzalez by the numbers: Inside the rookie's early impact with Celtics

Hugo Gonzalez by the numbers: Inside the rookie's early impact with Celtics originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

With more than a third of the 2025-26 season in the rearview mirror, the Boston Celtics sit third in the Eastern Conference, outkicking most pundits’ expectations after the team’s summer overhaul to a championship core and with Jayson Tatum sidelined to start the new campaign.

But if you take a step back, perhaps the most important development through the first two months of the season has been the positive gains from Boston’s stable of young wings.

From third-year wing Jordan Walsh emerging as a starter-caliber lockdown defender, to second-year Baylor Scheierman making good things happening in small doses, to 19-year-old rookie Hugo Gonzalez being an absolute energy-shifter in his floor time, the three players drafted highest by Brad Stevens over the past three years all look like they can be contributors for Boston’s next version of a title chaser.

Walsh changed the entire tenor of the season while kicking down the playing time door early in the season, and Scheierman has played in 16 straight games after a rash of DNPs in early November.

Playing time is earned not given under Joe Mazzulla, but the rookie Gonzalez has basically demanded more time given the way his play has inspired some of Boston’s best basketball over the past month.

Let’s crunch the numbers on Hugo:

+19.9

That’s the team-best net rating the Celtics have posted during Gonzalez’s 305 minutes of court time. The number that pops: Boston’s defensive rating plummets to a team-best 103 with Gonzalez on the court, or 11.7 points per 100 possessions better than the team’s season average.

+111

That’s the raw number that Boston has outscored opponents by this season with Gonzalez on the court, which is best among all rookies. Gonzalez is comfortably ahead of Philadelphia’s VJ Edgecombe (+94) and San Antonio’s Dylan Harper (+80), both of whom were top-three draft picks.

3 percent

That’s the percentage of defensive plays that Gonzalez is generating steals on, which ranks in the 98th percentile among all wings, per Cleaning the Glass data. Only Oklahoma City’s Cason Wallace and Sacramento’s Keon Ellis have higher rates at that position. Gonzalez ranks in the top 10 in steal percentage among all positions.

16.2 percent

That’s the percentage of opponent misses that Gonzalez is rebounding this season. He’s tied for seventh among all wings, with teammate Walsh. Gonzalez has tied or bested his season high in rebounds in each of the last three games, culminating with his first double-double of the year when he snagged 10 rebounds on Saturday in Toronto.

50 percent

That’s our crude estimate on the percentage of time that Gonzalez has defended a former — or soon-to-be — All-Star this season. His most-frequent matchups read like an Eastern Conference All-Star ballot: Cade Cunningham, Franz Wagner, Bam Adebayo, Brandon Ingram, Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Scottie Barnes, Tyrese Maxey and Donovan Mitchell. He’s also taken turns against West stars like Lauri Markkanen, Kevin Durant, and Austin Reaves.

Over at BBall Index, they have Gonzalez graded at an A- for overall matchup difficulty (62nd out of 501 players) and an A+ in defensive positional versatility (9th out of 501 players). Gonzalez has spent nearly as much time on centers (18.5 percent) as he has defending shooting guards (22.6 percent).

Hugo GonzalezDavid Butler II-Imagn Images
Hugo Gonzalez consistently guards the other team’s top players.

1

Loud poster dunk produced by Gonzalez this season, when he threw down over Toronto’s Sandro Mamukelashvili on Saturday night. It ranked 11th in Dunk Score by a Celtics player this season.

2

Tommy Awards won by Gonzalez on consecutive nights during Boston’s weekend back-to-back. Gonzalez now has three Tommy Awards this season.

What NBA games are on Christmas Day 2025: Schedule, how to watch, preview, tipoff times

In what's become a familiar holiday tradition like unwrapping presents from under the tree, the NBA will deliver its annual gift Thursday — a full slate of Christmas Day games for the 78th edition.

Starting with a noon tipoff and running until after midnight, there are five games on Christmas Day 2025 over more than 13 consecutive hours of coverage on ABC and ESPN.

Four of the past six NBA champions will be in action: the Lakers (2020), Warriors (2022), Nuggets (2023) and Thunder (2025).

Here's the rundown of the NBA on Christmas Day, past and present (and a look at the future on NBC and Peacock):

NBA Christmas Day 2025 full schedule and how to watch

*All times listed are ET

  • Cleveland Cavaliers at New York Knicks
    Time: Noon. TV: ABC, ESPN
  • San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma City Thunder
    Time: 2:30 p.m. TV: ABC, ESPN
  • Dallas Mavericks at Golden State Warriors
    Time: 5 p.m. TV: ABC, ESPN
  • Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Lakers
    Time: 8 p.m. TV: ABC, ESPN
  • Minnesota Timberwolves at Denver Nuggets
    Time: 10:30 p.m. TV: ABC, ESPN

How long has the NBA played on Christmas Day?

The tradition dates to the league's second season in 1947.

Which NBA team has played the most times on Christmas Day?

The New York Knicks have played a record 57 games on Christmas Day. The Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers are tied for most Christmas Day victories with 25 apiece.

There are seven players in NBA history with at least 11 Christmas Day starts: LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, Dwyane Wade, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant and Steph Curry.

Who holds the record for most points scored on Christmas Day?

Bernard King scored 60 points for the New York Knicks in a 120-114 defeat to the New Jersey Nets on Dec. 25, 1984.

Three other players have scored more than 50: Wilt Chamberlain (59 for the Philadelphia Warriors in a 136-135 double-overtime loss to the New York Knicks on Dec. 25, 1961), Luka Doncic (50 for the Dallas Mavericks in a 128-114 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Dec. 25, 2023) and Rick Barry (50 points for the San Francisco Warriors in a 124-112 victory over the Cincinnati Royals on Dec. 25, 1966).

LeBron James on Christmas Day history:

LeBron James holds multiple NBA records for points (507) and games played (19) on Christmas Day. James surpassed former teammate Dwyane Wade with his record 11th victory on Christmas Day last year (his teams are 11-8 on Dec. 25).

NBA on NBC 2025-26 Schedule

Click here to see the full list of NBA games that will air on NBC and Peacock this season.

How to watch NBA on NBC and Peacock

Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones.

Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.

How to sign up for Peacock:

Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You'll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC and Bravo hits on Peacock for whatever suits your mood.

What devices does Peacock support?

You can enjoy Peacock on a variety of devices. View the full list of supported devices here.

Warriors' Steve Kerr hilariously recalls emails from fan before 2025 NBA Draft

Warriors' Steve Kerr hilariously recalls emails from fan before 2025 NBA Draft originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Joe Lacob isn’t the only one in the Warriors organization getting emails from fans. 

Steve Kerr, during an interview on “The Tom Tolbert Show,” recalled a particularly ridiculous email he received from a fan before the 2025 NBA Draft. 

“I occasionally do [respond] but often do not. If something warrants a response, I will respond. I’m not gonna put anything out there, you know, that would be controversial,” Kerr said. “I remember last year, before the draft, I had a guy, he kept emailing me and saying, ‘just offer Dallas three firsts for Cooper Flagg.’” 

Imagine if trades were as simple as that. 

Nico Harrison, general manager of the Dallas Mavericks at that time, already had made a controversial trade sending Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers in February. If Harrison approved the fan-proposed deal, he might have been fired much sooner than his Nov. 11 departure. 

But the fan in Kerr’s inbox was adamant. 

“The guy sent me like three of them, but he kept calling him Cooper Kupp,” Kerr recalled. 

The 32-year-old wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks would be an interesting fit for Golden State to say the least. 

Kupp does have some basketball experience playing for Davis High School in Yakima, Washington. In 2012, the now-Seahawks receiver held Sacramento Kings star Zach LaVine to four points in the first half of a state quarterfinal game. 

Nevertheless, it is unclear how sending three first-round draft picks to Dallas would help Golden State acquire Kupp. 

Aside from crazy trade proposals from fans, the Warriors could use a bit of a boost from a trade, just like the boost the acquisition of Jimmy Butler gave the team last season. Kerr applauded Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy for having the team primed to make such a move. 

“Mike has done an amazing job as GM. He’s signed guys who have helped us on the court. He’s signed guys to good contracts that are tradeable. He’s given us the flexibility to go out and do something,” Kerr explained. “There’s no doubt at 13-and-15; we’d be foolish to sit here and say we can’t get better. So, I’m for anything that helps us get better for sure.” 

The Warriors have added one more win since the time of the interview, but Kerr surely still would welcome any big improvements added via trade. 

But, for all parties involved, some realistic expectations are necessary to draw up a trade that actually works. 

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Back in Knicks' starting lineup, Josh Hart is making All-Star case: 'He does everything well'

If you’re looking at the Knicks box score from Sunday, Jalen Brunson’s line (47 points, 8 assists, 0 turnovers) probably catches your eye. Maybe Mikal Bridges’ three-point shooting (6-for-7) gets your attention.

What about Josh Hart

Hart’s numbers (13 points, 10 rebounds and five assists against Miami) are solid. But they aren’t spectacular.

Judging Hart’s impact by a box score, though, is a mistake.

“His impact, you can't really tell from the stat sheet,” Brunson says. “But by the eye test, everyone knows that he's a competitor. He brings a winning style of basketball to this team."

The Knicks have done a lot of winning since they traded for Hart in 2023. 

In fact, they are 137-89 in the regular season with Hart in the lineup -- that includes a 10-2 record this season when Hart is in there alongside Brunson, Bridges, and Karl-Anthony Towns.

“I think he does a great job pushing the pace, and he presents a different... obstacle for the opponents to have to deal with,” Towns said after the Knicks’ win over Miami. “I think that he's done a great job of utilizing his game, what he does best, and maximizing our team’s chance to win.”

Entering Sunday's game against the Heat, New York had the No. 2 net rating in the NBA since Nov. 24, when Hart moved into the starting lineup. And they have a net rating of +16.1 with Hart on the floor since the lineup change.

They rank fourth in the NBA in rebounding percentage during that span.

“He’s a guy that just does everything well. If you’re not careful, you may look at it and say, ‘Well, he can’t really do (this).’ Nah, nah, he does everything well,” Mike Brown said. “He does a couple things at an elite level, and when you have a guy like that who’s pretty selfless, it can bode well to connecting the group, no matter who he’s on the floor with.”

Brown moved Hart into the starting group in late November after listening to feedback from his staff.

Credit Brown for keeping an open mind. Hart’s ability to push the ball in transition has changed the Knicks.

“Josh gets in (and) he's probably one of the fastest with the ball; he's going to the rim, or he's driving in the paint, trying to find guys,” Bridges says. “I think his ability to get in transition and push and create opens up a lot.”

Hart’s individual numbers as a starter are strong. He’s averaging 15 points, 9.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists while shooting 52.6 percent from the floor and 40.7 on threes. And the Knicks have done a lot of winning with Hart in the starting lineup.

“He’s our Draymond Green,” one Knick staffer said recently.

The comparison is not far off.

In 2015-16, Green averaged 14.2 points, 9.5 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game prior to the All-Star break. The Warriors were 48-3 with Green in the lineup at the time. Opposing coaches recognized Green’s value by voting him to the Western Conference All-Star team. He joined teammates Steph Curry and Klay Thompson in the game.

If you looked at Green’s individual numbers that season, you wouldn’t think he’d make an All-Star team.  

Green’s All-Star bid was based on team success, not individual stats.

Just like Green in 2015-16, Hart is having a huge impact on his team’s success. Opposing coaches recognize his value.

“Right now, he’d definitely get consideration,” one opposing coach said of Hart and an All-Star bid. The coach cited Hart’s 'impact on' New York’s record and said he’s 'playing like’ an All-Star

It sounds like Hart will have a strong case for an All-Star spot if he continues to produce and the Knicks continue to win.

Perfect night

Brunson had an MSG career-high 47 points against Miami. But he was pleased with another stat from Sunday’s win: zero. Brunson had eight assists and no turnovers against the Heat. Brunson had nine assists and zero turnovers in a loss to Philadelphia on Friday. No turnovers in his past 75 minutes on the floor.

“That means a lot,” Brunson said late Sunday. “…. Obviously, no turnovers is what I strive for. Obviously, sometimes when you're aggressive, you make aggressive mistakes. I can live with (the aggressive mistakes), the passive mistakes, I can't live with. But yeah, just trying to hold the ball as much as I can and not give it to the other team.”