Category: Basketball

Ainge and change: Rare front office exit symbolic of Celtics' summer in flux originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

For the first time in 22 years, the Boston Celtics don’t have at least one member of the Ainge family on their front office staff.

Austin Ainge, who spent the past 17 seasons within the Celtics organization, morphing from the first head coach of the Maine Red Claws of the then-NBA Development League to Boston’s director of player personnel to one of the team’s assistant general managers — logging plenty of international miles scouting overseas along the way — is joining his father, Danny, on the Utah Jazz.

The younger Ainge will serve as the Jazz’s new president of basketball operations. Danny Ainge spent 19 seasons as the Celtics’ president of basketball operations before stepping down in 2021. He now serves as CEO of basketball operations for Utah.

Even when the elder Ainge departed after the 2020-21 season, the Celtics maintained a high level of front-office continuity around Brad Stevens, who elevated from coach to general manager that summer. Assistant GMs Mike Zarren (2003), Austin Ainge (2011), and Dave Lewin (2012) had all been in the organization since before Stevens’ arrival. 

Ainge’s departure occurs as the Celtics prepare for an ownership transition, with Bill Chisholm waiting for final NBA approval on his $6.1 billion purchase. Change has been rare within the Celtics organization, but things will feel undeniably different after this summer. That includes potential changes to the core of this team, as Stevens’ front-office staff must charter an offseason path through murky waters.

Austin Ainge worked hard to distinguish himself on a staff helmed by his father. We can’t remember the last draft workout that didn’t feature Austin at the forefront, handling the “I can’t say too much” media responsibilities when reporters pried him for clues.

It was clear how much pride Danny Ainge took in the way his son carved out his own role in Boston, and all the time they got to share together on work duties.

“[Austin has] been around the game his whole life,” Danny Ainge told us in 2015. “Austin was in my coaches’ meetings, Austin was on the court, he was in my huddles. He was tugging on my pant leg telling me what to do when I was a head coach in Phoenix. He’s been around it his whole life. Him and I have talked basketball — I’ve talked more basketball with him than anybody else.”

Now father and son are reunited in Utah. Austin Ainge gets to put his stamp on Utah’s rebuilding process — one that features some familiar faces, not just with his father, but also with former Celtics assistant Will Hardy as head coach of the Jazz.

But seeing Boston’s brain trust, which includes vice president of team operations and organization growth Allison Feaster, around TD Garden and on the road will simply feel different without Austin’s presence. We’ll miss the tales of his latest international odyssey and the elite list of golf courses he navigated in his travels.

The lingering question for Boston is whether the team will infuse new blood in a front office role. The Celtics were rumored to be interested in outside possibilities after Stevens’ elevation in 2021 but mainly stayed in-house while adding Feaster, who first joined the team during Danny Ainge’s tenure.

At the very least, we need to know who will be tracking the records on the so-called “Boston Marathon,” where draft prospects engage in a three-minute, full-court sprint drills after their pre-draft workouts. Austin Ainge had to be sick of us asking about who held the records each year.

In Ainge, the Celtics are losing a whole bunch of institutional knowledge and someone who understood the vision of the team. Let’s see if the addition of another Ainge in Utah leads to any additional Celtics-Jazz trade chatter as both teams figure out their path forward.

Celtics player spotlight: What's next for Horford as free agency looms? originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Al Horford was among the first major free agents to choose to join the Boston Celtics when he signed a max contract with the team in the summer of 2016. He has spent a total of seven seasons with the C’s, including each of the last four.

Horford has been instrumental in helping the Celtics go from a contender in the Eastern Conference to NBA champion last season.

He turns 39 on Tuesday, and with his contract soon expiring, what does Horford’s future in Boston look like? It’s one of the most interesting questions to begin the offseason.

His teammates very much want him to come back.

“You can’t replace Al,” Celtics guard Payton Pritchard told reporters at a press conference May 17. “So, I definitely hope we can get that figured out, because just his locker room presence alone is crucial. And then having him on the court, just for all the young guys to see how he goes about his business how professional he is, he’s just a leader. We definitely need him back.”

As we continue our “Celtics Player Spotlight” series, let’s recap Horford’s 2024-25 season and analyze how he fits into Boston’s lineup for 2025-26:

2024-25 Season Recap

The Celtics have managed Horford’s minutes in recent seasons, and that process has largely worked, because he’s been pretty durable for a big man in his late 30s. Horford averaged 9.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 0.9 blocks per game, while shooting 42.3 percent from the field and 36.3 percent from 3-point range this past season. His 3-point percentage has decreased in each of the last two seasons, but he’s still a good shooter.

Horford ended up playing in 60 regular season games, and he started in nine of Boston’s 11 playoff matchups as Kristaps Porzingis battled a mystery illness.

Horford also remains a good one-on-one defender who can guard multiple positions and provide a shot-blocking presence inside. His defense in a win over the Los Angeles Lakers in March was a great example. Horford did a great job defending Luka Doncic and LeBron James.

Horford isn’t an All-Star player anymore, but he’s very much a starting-caliber and versatile big man.

Contract details

Horford’s two-year contract (with a $9.5 million salary cap hit, per Spotrac) is set to expire, which will allow him to become an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Potential roles for 2025-26

Scenario 1: Horford re-signs with Celtics, remains backup center

Horford is best suited coming off the bench at this stage of his career. And if the Celtics have a healthy Kristaps Porzingis on their roster going into next season, it would make sense to have Horford be the first center off the bench.

Scenario 2: Horford re-signs with Celtics, starts at center

If Porzingis is traded in the offseason, Horford would be the best option to start at center. In this scenario, it would be beneficial for the Celtics to sign a free-agent center and/or re-sign Luke Kornet. The C’s cannot afford to have Horford be their only non-rookie center who’s capable of playing 20-plus minutes per game.

Horford actually played a little better offensively as a starter last season. He shot 37.2 percent from 3-point range in those minutes.

Scenario 3: Horford departs as free agent

Any contending team, especially one that’s close to a title but hasn’t won yet, could use a veteran like Horford who can shoot 3-pointers, defend at a high level and provide excellent leadership. Any team desperate for frontcourt depth would be wise to make a free agent pitch. ESPN’s Tim Bontemps recently made the case for the Knicks pursuing Horford in free agency, noting that he’d be an “unbelievable fit” for New York.

However, the last time Horford left Boston as a free agent following a disappointing playoff run was 2019 when he signed with the Philadelphia 76ers. It was a disaster, and the Sixers ended up trading Horford after only one season.

Final thoughts

Horford is still a very good player. He’s an above average 3-point shooter and a strong defender. His leadership is fantastic, and his teammates and coaches love him. He is, in many ways, the perfect veteran to have on your roster.

In addition to Horford, veteran center Luke Kornet is also able to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. The Celtics should try to bring back at least one of them, because if they don’t, their frontcourt depth will be pretty rough.

Bringing back Horford on a team-friendly contract would be the best-case scenario for the Celtics, who must work around the constraints of being a second-apron team.

Steph ‘for sure' will consider TV role after NBA career ends originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Let the bidding wars begin.

Warriors superstar Steph Curry, in an exclusive interview with CNBC’s Alex Sherman for the network’s documentary “Curry Inc.: The Business of Stephen Curry,” which airs Wednesday at 6 p.m. PT and again at 9 p.m., revealed that he will consider a role in television upon the end of his iconic NBA career

“Oh, for sure,” Curry told Sherman. “I’ve seen guys go through it, a lot of ex-NBA guys who are behind the booth now, whether it’s commentating, in-studio – you’ve seen what Tom Brady is doing in the NFL, Draymond [Green] already has his path set up.”

Days after saying he won’t take his talents into the podcasting scene, Curry appears committed to staying around the NBA after hanging up his legendary No. 30 jersey. The 37-year-old’s consideration makes sense, as his father, Dell, has worked as a color analyst for the Charlotte Hornets’ television broadcasts for nearly 20 years, even after playing 16 seasons in the league.

There isn’t much – if anything – left for Curry to accomplish as a player. Of course, he wants a fifth NBA championship, but the greatest shooter of all time already has four to go with 11 All-Star and All-NBA nods, two MVP awards, a spot on the league’s 75th Anniversary Team and, after last summer’s heroics, an Olympic gold medal.

Working in TV seemingly would pose a new challenge for Curry. And that could be exactly what he wants once he’s done playing for Golden State and in the NBA.

“I will be more patient, I think, about what will be the right opportunity for me, because anything I do, I want to be all in on it,” Curry told Sherman. “And right now, just doing your homework on the different pathways and opportunities that might be available.”

Any network that lands Curry will be must-see TV. Though the megastar himself isn’t rushing anything, letting the cards fall as they may.

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Celtics assistant GM Austin Ainge taking Jazz front office role originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Austin Ainge is reuniting with his father.

The Utah Jazz are hiring Ainge, the Boston Celtics’ assistant general manager, as their new president of basketball operations, the team announced Monday. ESPN’s Shams Charania and Tim Bontemps first reported Ainge’s hire.

Ainge is the son of former Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge, who left Boston in June 2021 and took over as the Jazz’s CEO of basketball operations and alternate governor later that year.

Austin Ainge first joined the Celtics organization in 2009, serving as head coach of the G League Affiliate Maine Red Claws (now the Maine Celtics). He moved to the front office in 2011, starting out as Boston’s director of player personnel before assuming the assistant GM role in 2019.

“We are thrilled for Austin as he embarks on his new journey with the Jazz,” Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said in a statement Monday. “He’s clearly ready for this next step, and I know how much he’s looking forward to leading a team.

“He’s obviously very bright and has experienced success as a player, coach and executive at various levels of the game. On top of that, he leaves no stone unturned – he’s a strategic thinker that’s motivated and is an extremely hard worker. We will miss him in Boston, but could not be happier for Austin and his family.“

The timing of Ainge’s departure is notable, as Boston faces a potentially franchise-altering offseason. The Celtics need to shed at least $20 million in salary to get under the second apron of the luxury tax, and Jayson Tatum’s ruptured Achilles — which could sideline him for most or all of the 2025-26 season — might convince Stevens to reset the roster in some capacity to avoid punitive roster-building and financial penalties.

Stevens and his front office now will need to make those decisions without Ainge, who gets the chance to serve in a prominent role for a franchise that features his father atop the masthead and a former Celtics assistant, Will Hardy, as head coach.

Steph admits to suffering from impostor syndrome at times originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Steph Curry, believe it or not, is human.

Although the Warriors superstar might not seem like it at times on the court, off the court, he has personal struggles of his own.

Curry sat down with CNBC’s Alex Sherman in an exclusive interview for the network’s documentary “Curry Inc.: The Business of Stephen Curry,” which airs Wednesday at 6 p.m. PT and again at 9 p.m., and admitted that even he, the four-time NBA champion and 11-time All-Star, has self-doubts.

“I’m human,” Curry told Sherman. “Like everybody, you have doubts about yourself, you have impostor syndrome at times.”

Even Curry, who has accomplished so much on and off the court, has impostor syndrome?

“At times, yeah,” Curry added. “It’s an idea of are you doing everything you can to take care of the people that are relying on you? Are you fulfilling your full potential in all different areas that I’ve set out to do, like those are daily commitments and daily thoughts that you kind of have to weave through.”

“We all like to be a better husband, a better father, more present at times, just because we’re pulled — I’m pulled — in a lot of different areas.”

While his life certainly can be hectic at times, Curry knows it’s important to enjoy the fruits of his labor when he can.

“All of these realties are wild to me, and sometimes you just gotta get out of your own way and enjoy it,” Curry added.

After the Warriors were eliminated from the NBA playoffs on May 14, and with no Summer Olympics commitment like he had last year, Curry should have plenty of time to unwind this summer.

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Steph admits to suffering from imposter syndrome at times originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Steph Curry, believe it or not, is human.

Although the Warriors superstar might not seem like it at times on the court, off the court, he has personal struggles of his own.

Curry sat down with CNBC’s Alex Sherman in an exclusive interview for the network’s documentary “Curry Inc.: The Business of Stephen Curry,” which airs Wednesday at 6 p.m. PT, and admitted that even he, the four-time NBA champion and 11-time All-Star, has self-doubt.

“I’m human,” Curry told Sherman. “Like everybody, you have doubts about yourself, you have impostor syndrome at times.”

Even Curry, who has accomplished so much on and off the court, has impostor syndrome?

“At times, yeah,” Curry added. “It’s an idea of are you doing everything you can to take care of the people that are relying on you? Are you fulfilling your full potential in all different areas that I’ve set out to do, like those are daily commitments and daily thoughts that you kind of have to weave through.”

“We all like to be a better husband, a better father, more present at times, just because we’re pulled — I’m pulled — in a lot of different areas.”

While his life certainly can be hectic at times, Curry knows it’s important to enjoy the fruits of his labor when he can.

“All of these realties are wild to me, and sometimes you just gotta get out of your own way and enjoy it,” Curry added.

After the Warriors were eliminated in the second round of the NBA playoffs on May 14, and with no Summer Olympics commitment like he had last year, Curry should have plenty of time to unwind this summer.

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A few hours after the Nuggets fired general manager Calvin Booth and head coach Michael Malone, Tom Thibodeau was sitting in the press conference room at Madison Square Garden, answering questions about Malone, Booth, and the high stakes of working in the NBA.

“I think it’s maybe a byproduct of where we are today with all that goes on. That’s where, hopefully, you have people that can remain calm. You win together, you lose together. You work through things together,” Thibodeau said that day. “I think that’s an important part of this business.”

The overarching question facing the Knicks right now: Do you remain calm, make changes on the margins, and run it back next year with the same group? Or do you go the opposite route and trade for a star or search for a new head coach?

These are questions that will be answered in the coming days as the Knicks conduct exit meetings with players and perform an autopsy on the 2024-25 season.

If you zoom out, it would seem strange to make massive changes to a team that made the conference finals for the first time in 25 years.

The Knicks have, mostly, showed year-over-year progress in the Jalen Brunson era. You can make an easy case for running it back with Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby as your core and Thibodeau as your coach.

After New York’s season-ending loss on Saturday, Brunson expressed unequivocal support for his teammates and head coach.

He was incredulous when asked by a reporter if Thibodeau is the right coach to lead the team forward.

“Is that a real question right now? You just asked me if I believe he’s the right guy? Yes. Come on,” he said. As he left the podium and walked out of the room, Brunson continued to critique the premise of the question.

Brunson was also asked how confident he is that the current iteration of the Knicks.

“The most confidence. Over confident. Seriously,” he said. “There’s not an ounce of any type of doubt that I’m not confident with this group.”

Obviously, it would be strange if Brunson didn’t express confidence in his teammates and head coach in this setting. But the way he answered the question tells you more than the words. Brunson meant what he said.

Do the Knick decision-makers – chiefly team president Leon Rose and owner James Dolan – feel the same way? We’ll find out the answer to that question over the next six weeks or so.

What’s next for the Knicks? Like all teams, the franchise will take time to evaluate both players and coaches in the wake of Saturday’s season-ending loss. That in-person evaluation didn’t begin on Sunday but will start this coming week, per people in touch with the Knicks.

I assume all NBA teams go through a similar process after their season ends. But with the Knicks, the evaluation will be made with clear criteria: Does this help us win an NBA championship?

The Knicks ended their 2024-25 season falling two wins short of the NBA Finals, after a whirlwind of a year that began with a training camp eve blockbuster trade and brought a shocking upset over the defending champion Boston Celtics.

Let’s look back and see how each individual team member performed this year as a whole and grade them for their efforts:

Jalen Brunson: A

The Captain continued his rise into NBA stardom this year and delivered when the Knicks needed him most, earning himself a Clutch Player of the Year Award. Brunson averaged 26 points and 7.3 assists on 54 percent shooting from two and 38 percent shooting from three during the regular season, then upped his game in the postseason, averaging 29 and seven assists on 51 percent shooting from two and 36 percent from three.

There were drawbacks, as he didn’t leave the Conference Finals on the best note and got hammered defensively that series. As the team leader he’s also responsible for the communication and ego issues the team constantly brought up throughout the season, but this was his first go around as the clear No. 1 in the locker room, so look for improvements in all these regards next year.

Karl-Anthony Towns: A-

Despite being shipped by the team that drafted him and molded him over nine years on the eve of training camp and immediately facing questions about his toughness and defense, Towns adjusted to New York quickly and effectively, putting together an All-Star worthy season. Though his defense was infuriating at times, he put it together for that Celtics series and still brought a massive scoring punch every night, despite not being maximized on that end. 

OG Anunoby: B+

After signing the biggest contract in Knicks history, Anunoby averaged a career-high 18 points on 37 percent shooting from three, expanding his self-creation game and still bringing that otherworldly defense. He had a rough shooting conference finals in a tough matchup, and had some weird bouts of inconsistency, but was one of the more dependable Knicks on the season, playing 74 games and upping the ante defensively. 

Mikal Bridges: B-

Bridges will forever be haunted by the price it took to acquire him, but had a strong year, including some massive postseason moments, outside of his odd quirks. If he comes back next year having rediscovered his shooting stroke and willingness to play with some physicality, it could be a massive season for him. 

Josh Hart: B-

It’s hard to ding a guy that does all the thankless things for a team stacked with offensive talent, but something about Hart’s year didn’t quite measure up to his previous work. Most egregious was a disastrous Pacers series in which he nearly had as many turnovers as field goals, but even prior to that, the pace-pushing, tenacious rebounding, and connectivity was come-and-go.

Mitchell Robinson: A+

After missing the length of the season recovering from an ankle injury, Robinson returned and was one of the most impactful Knicks of the Playoffs, single-handedly turning around games to the point he was inserted into the starting lineup. There were questions surrounding his health coming into the year that got his name tied up in trade rumors, but he’s re-cemented himself as a top starting center in this league after a dominant postseason.

Miles McBride: C+

Last year’s breakout year came with heightened expectations for McBride, who struggled through injury and regression during the regular season, before bouncing back somewhat in the Playoffs. He had a case to play more as a true spacer and defender in Towns-at-the-five lineups, but didn’t get many opportunities for it. 

Precious Achiuwa: B

Achiuwa wasn’t a mainstay in the rotation, especially once Robinson returned, but when called upon did his job serviceably and with high effort. This included out-of-position stints at the four and some short but useful appearances in the Playoffs. 

Cameron Payne: C-

A nice stopgap as a backup point, Payne was serviceable enough in taking up some first half minutes, especially when he knocked down shots. But his small frame was a target defensively that got exposed in the Playoffs when he struggled to score on the other end, and outside a couple of cool moments, had a largely forgettable year. 

Landry Shamet: B+

A strong preseason that set him up for a rotation spot ended in a hamstring injury that sidelined him for much of the regular season, but after a ramp-up period and late postseason insertion into the rotation, Shamet paid solid dividends to the Knicks for keeping their faith in him. A trusted shooter and willing defender, they should try to retain him as an off-the-bench piece. 

Delon Wright: B+

The Knicks acquired Wright at the trade deadline in exchange for Jericho Sims, but didn’t really utilize him until they found their backs against the wall against Indiana. At that point, he proved himself a capable bench spark defensively, if only we had seen more of it prior. 

Tom Thibodeau: B+

While Thibodeau gets the highest of marks for getting the Knicks to their first Conference Finals in decades, unfortunately many of the frustrations with his coaching reared their heads at once in knocking the Knicks out of that series. Failure to experiment with lineups throughout the regular season, failure to trust in the bench, and a failure to maximize the offense all came back to haunt New York, but given their success and his popularity among the players, the adjustment here is bringing in a strong assistant or two instead of replacing the winningest coach in recent Knicks history.  

How NBA's conference finals were full of Warriors' 2020 draft ties originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The 2025 NBA Finals have been set, with the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder representing the Western Conference, and the No. 4 seed Indiana Pacers coming out of the Eastern Conference. Each team took different paths to get here. 

The Thunder made their first Finals appearance since a young Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden led them there in 2012. The Pacers’ run has been 25 years in the making, last getting this far in 2000 behind the duo of Reggie Miller and Jalen Rose. To do so, Indiana and Oklahoma City had to get through a conference finals with a whole ton of ties to the 2020 NBA Draft, one in which the Warriors can’t escape, five years later. 

It all starts with the team the Thunder took down in five games. The Minnesota Timberwolves won just 19 games in the 2019-20 season, two seasons after being the No. 8 seed under Tom Thibodeau behind a trio of Jimmy Butler, Andrew Wiggins (hey, more Warriors ties!) and Karl-Anthony Towns. Minnesota with the top pick in the draft made Anthony Edwards its new face of the franchise, and Ant-Man already has become one of the faces of the entire NBA at 23 years old. 

Edwards is a dog whose bite matches his bark, a bona fide superstar who backs up his words. Part of that he credits to Warriors coach Steve Kerr for the way he pushed him in his pre-draft workout when Golden State was selecting one spot behind Minnesota. Kerr knew Edwards wanted to soon enough be mentioned with the greats like Steph Curry and Kevin Durant, but how he attacked his workout was nothing compared to those two. The taste of defeat in the conference finals for a second straight year will sit with Edwards for the time being, though the Timberwolves obviously already have gotten everything a franchise hopes for in having the No. 1 pick. 

In technical terms, the Timberwolves made two more picks five years ago, taking Aleksej Pokusevski (No. 17) and Daniel Oturu (No. 33). Neither ever wore a Timberwolves jersey. Pokusevski was traded to the Thunder, and Oturu was sent to the LA Clippers. 

They did bring in one more player, Leandro Bolmaro, with the No. 23 pick as part of a three-team trade, but this point is all about what happened five picks later. The Los Angeles Lakers originally drafted Jaden McDaniels, but in the same three-team trade that involved Pokusevski and Bolmaro, the Timberwolves traded for McDaniels from the Thunder. 

Like that, the Timberwolves added two players in the 2020 draft who are starters on a team that made back-to-back conference finals, one who is an All-NBA player and another who is an All-Defensive player. Yet they still aren’t the winners of the draft five years ago when it comes to these conference finals. 

Their victors, the Thunder, have owned a wealth of draft picks that go deeper than Cat Stevens’ first cut. It’s not like OKC crushed this draft on its road back to the Finals. 

The Great Poku Experiment brought social media buzz and not much else. They first had the No. 25 pick, Immanuel Quickley, that was sent to the New York Knicks, and also in a sense had the McDaniels pick on paper. The Thunder acquired two players in the second round, and those selections didn’t amount to any results. 

Then there’s the No. 49 pick. The team was the Philadelphia 76ers, and the player they landed on was Isaiah Joe. But his time in Philly was only two seasons for a total of 96 games, averaging 3.7 points with a 34.9 3-point percentage. The 76ers waived him on Oct. 13, 2022. The Thunder then signed him three days later for a total of $6 million over three seasons. 

Joe last July signed a four-year, $48 million deal as a key cog in the Thunder’s machine. They developed a 6-foot-5 guard into someone who has shot 42.3 percent on threes for them the last three seasons and averaged a career-high 10.2 points per game. The Warriors were on the clock one spot ahead of Joe being selected by the Sixers. 

Golden State grabbed point guard Nico Mannion, who played one season in a Warriors jersey and has spent his time playing in Italy since his rookie year. Just three picks after taking Mannion, the Warriors went with a shooter who was a project everywhere else in Justinian Jessup, and he’s still yet to play an NBA game. 

Back in the Eastern Conference, the Knicks have only one player on their roster drafted in 2020. Precious Achiuwa originally was drafted by the Miami Heat 20th overall, traded to the Toronto Raptors one year later, and then wound up in New York as part of a deal that saw the Knicks send Quickley up north. 

But the Knicks, as they somehow always do whether they’re good or bad, will find their way back into this story. 

This year’s conference finals featured the NBA MVP (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander) and the two best players from the 2020 draft. The top dog from the draft is Edwards, however, Tyrese Haliburton has made his case. 

Haliburton wasn’t a top three, five or 10 pick in the draft. He barely remained in the lottery before being taken by the Sacramento Kings at No. 12. While he was more than one team’s loss, including the Kings after trading him to the Pacers in a package highlighted by Domantas Sabonis, Haliburton would have been the perfect Warrior. 

And he isn’t the Pacers’ lone win, looking back at a bizarre draft. 

Now it’s time for the Knicks to re-enter the conversation. Thoughts of Obi Toppin hammering home East Bay Dunks at Madison Square Garden didn’t translate to stardom. He started only 15 games and averaged 7.0 points in three seasons with the Knicks after being drafted No. 8 overall, but Toppin now has settled into his own the past two seasons as a Pacer, scoring 20 points in a critical Game 4 against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round. 

Aaron Nesmith tallied 16 minutes for the Boston Celtics against the Warriors in the 2022 Finals, with the majority coming in garbage time of a Game 2 blowout loss for Boston. He was an afterthought when that next offseason, the Celtics traded him to the Pacers for one season of Malcolm Brogdon. Yes, Brogdon won Sixth Man of the Year for the Celtics that season, but has played 63 games between two teams since.

Meanwhile, Nesmith, the No. 14 pick in the 2020 draft, has turned into the Pacers’ starting small forward, giving them three players from the lottery of five years ago. The Timberwolves’ duo of Edwards and McDaniels is hard to beat. The Pacers came out of the 2020 draft with only Cassius Stanley (No. 54 overall), and now have a trio of Haliburton, Toppin and Nesmith that made two straight conference finals before the franchise’s first trip to the Finals in 25 years, giving them an edge that’s hard to argue against. 

Everything is circular. There’s only one way for all this to end, bringing it back to the Warriors. 

The story has been told enough: The Warriors chose James Wiseman at No. 2 overall, and let’s just say it didn’t work out. The Wiseman era was interrupted by injuries, sure. The Warriors won a championship without him, and the results spoke for themselves when he did play. 

Wiseman was traded to the Detroit Pistons the next season and spent all of last year there. He played a career-high 63 games in 2023-24, but then was looking for his third team while still 23 years old at the time. The Pacers inked him at the opening of free agency, and Wiseman lasted one game on his newest team – to no fault of his own. 

Another injury wiped out another full season. Wiseman scored six points in the first quarter of the Pacers’ season opener, and then … snap! Wiseman slowly collapsed to center court in Detroit after missing a three. He tore his Achilles, ending his season, and the Pacers traded him to the Raptors at this season’s deadline in exchange for a trade exception. 

After all that, Wiseman has a chance to technically be the one and only two-time champion from the Class of 2020 in seasons he played a combined four minutes and 28 seconds. For all that he’s endured, Wiseman deserves the good fortune of a possible Pacers championship and a second ring to wear if they win and choose to award him one.

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The Indiana Pacers reached the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000 as they beat the New York Knicks 125-108 in game six of the Eastern Conference finals.

Pascal Siakam maintained his impressive form to be named MVP of the series after recording 31 points and three blocked shots on Saturday in Indianapolis.

Siakam scored over 30 points in three of four victories for the Pacers, who won the series 4-2.

The Pacers will face Western Conference winners the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals, which begin on Thursday.

Siakam, a nine-year veteran who won the title in 2019 with the Toronto Raptors, said: "After a bad game five, we wanted to bounce back and I have 100% belief in my team-mates. Whenever we're down, we find a way, and we did that tonight."

Looking back to when he was an NBA champion, Siakam said: "That year was my third year, I was this young kid. I thought it was going to be easy [to get back].

"I appreciate it even more now because I know how hard it is to get here."

Speaking about Siakam, Indiana coach Rick Carlisle added: "So deserving. The guy has been a rock of consistency all year."

Tyrese Haliburton also starred for the hosts, adding 21 points, 13 assists and three steals, while Obi Toppin scored 18 points off the bench.

"It's a special feeling to do it with this group," Haliburton said. "We got to the same spot last year and we fell short. We worked our tails off to get back here."

For the Knicks, OG Anunoby top-scored with 24 points and Karl-Anthony Towns added 22 points as the visitors fell short after conceding 18 turnovers.

The first quarter was a tight affair as the Pacers led 25-24 before stretching their lead to four points by the end of the first half.

Pacers took control in the third quarter, which began with a 9-0 run, to end the Knicks' resistance and claim the series win.

• Thunder make NBA finals but have 'more work to do'

When the dust finally settles from the Knicks' season-ending loss to the Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals, a considerable chunk of the summer chatter will center around the job security of head coach Tom Thibodeau.

The debates among fans and pundits haven't cooled down. Some believe the veteran coach deserves another season to guide the Knicks' current core, while others contend a fresh face sharing a new philosophy is needed for the franchise to finally reach championship heights.

Thibodeau's seat isn't as hot as it used to be -- there were rumblings about his future back in April, before the Knicks faced the underdog Pistons in the first round of the playoffs. A disappointing finish to the 2024-25 season can't erase their overachievements, and captain Jalen Brunson emphatically believes his coach is fit to continue leading the group.

"Is that a real question right now?" Brunson said after the Game 6 loss to the Pacers on Saturday night. "You just asked me if I believe he's the right guy? Yes."

The Knicks didn't play a disciplined brand of basketball with a long-coveted trip to the NBA Finals up for grabs. They comitted a whopping 93 turnovers across six games against the Pacers, and conceded 23.3 points on average from those blunders alone. Throughout the series, Indiana was tougher and more resilient.

Of course, not all fingers can be pointed toward Thibodeau for the Knicks' shortcomings. His job is restricted to the bench and sideline. But there isn't a single Knicks fan who could seriously argue Thibodeau coached a better series than Pacers veteran Rick Carlisle. In a battle of wits and scheme, it was practically no contest.

But the Knicks still earned their ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals with mental fortitude and timely starpower, and even Carlisle recognizes how Thibodeau has helped reshape the franchise's image since assuming the head coaching job in 2020.

"The Knicks were an unreal opponent," Carlisle said. "Tough-minded, always coming at you. After the game, they showed great class with all the interactions I had with those guys. I mentioned the job that Thibs has done there. He's turned the culture completely flipped from where it was."

Thibodeau, who turned 67 in January, signed a three-year contract extension with the Knicks last summer that keeps him with the team through the 2027-28 season. Only time will tell if he sticks around for the handful of seasons remaining on his deal.

Jalen Brunson was asked if he has confidence that Tom Thibodeau is the right coach for the Knicks moving forward:

"Is that a real question right now? You just asked me if I believe if he's the right guy. Yes." pic.twitter.com/FRjCO8genL

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) June 1, 2025