In the aftermath of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Nike and LeBron James have found themselves at the center of controversy over an unusual -- and what many on social media have called tone deaf -- tribute attempt: a shoe in the colorway of the site where Dr. King was assassinated.
The LeBron XXIII "Honor the King" takes inspiration from the teal-colored signage of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, where Dr. King was shot and killed on April 4, 1968. The word "Equality" is written on the heel and is one of 23 colorways to be released by Nike commemorating moments throughout James' 23-year NBA career. This one in particular is meant to pay homage to LeBron's 51-point performance against the Grizzlies in Memphis on MLK Day in 2008.
But, as Sandra E. Garcia wrote in the New York Times, "The assassination represents a painful chapter in the history of the city, one long darkened by a shadow of shame over its role in a national tragedy."
The Lorraine Motel reopened in 1991 as the National Civil Rights Museum, although Garcia reported that the museum did not know about the sneaker until a few days ago.
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Hoops are going Hollywood.
On Sunday, Feb. 15, the 75th NBA All-Star Game will take place at Inglewood, CA’s Intuit Dome, aka the home of the Los Angeles Clippers.
Western Conference starters this year include Lakers top scorer Luka Dončić (sixth selection), Warriors sharpshoot Stephen Curry (12th), Thunder 2025 NBA Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (fourth), dominant Nuggets big man Nikola Jokić (eighth) and wiry Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (second).
Starting for the East are the Bucks franchise player Giannis Antetokounmpo (10th), 76ers rising star Tyrese Maxey (second selection), clutch Knicks leader Jalen Brunson (third), Pistons bruiser Cade Cunningham (second) and Celtics icon Jaylen Brown (fifth).
Yes, you read that right, LeBron isn’t starting an NBA All-Star Game for the first time 2004 back when George W. Bush was President, Outkast had the No. 1-song in the country with “The Way You Move” and Kenan Thompson was in his first season as an “SNL” cast member.
If you’d like to be there to witness this exciting contest live — in a totally new “USA vs. The World” round-robin format — tickets are available on the primary and secondary market on sites like StubHub and Vivid Seats.
At the time of publication, the lowest price we could find on 2026 NBA All-Star Game tickets was $1,257 including fees on GameTime.
100-level seats start at $3,590 including fees on GameTime as well.
For the uninitiated, the “USA vs. The World” tournament will be between three teams: two consisting of players from the U.S. and one made up of international stars. Games last 12 minutes.
In addition to the this unconventional All-Star series, the high-flying Dunk Contest, tongue-in-cheek Celebrity Game, scrappy Rookie Game and endlessly entertaining practice also take place over the long President’s Day weekend.
Need a bit more information before smashing that buy button?
We’re here to help, hoopers.
Our team has everything you need to know and more about the 2026 NBA All-Star Game at Inglewood, CA’s Intuit Dome below.
NBA All-Star Game 2026 tickets
A complete breakdown of all the best ticket prices on the various ticket platforms — Ticketmaster, StubHub, Vivid Seats, and GameTime — can be found here:
NBA All-Star Game tickets
Ticket prices start at
Ticketmaster
N/A
StubHub
$1,348(including fees)
Vivid Seats
$1,272(including fees)
GameTime
$1,257(including fees)
NBA Saturday Night 2026
Saturday night, which happens to fall on Valentine’s Day this year, is when things pick up on All-Star Weekend.
The annual skills challenge — made up of the Dunk Contest, Three-Point Contest and, of course, the Skills Challenge — generally draw more “oohs, ahhs, and whoas” than the actual games.
To see the highest fliers, sharpest shooters and crispest passers at the Clippers’ Intuit Dome, tickets start at $810 including fees on GameTime.
NBA Celebrity Game 2026
Although we don’t know who will take the floor for this year’s celebrity game, we’d guess it’ll be a mishmash of rappers, former NBA players, current NFL stars, Backstreet Boys and comedians based on the bizarre yet always entertaining rosters from years past.
If this sounds like your idea of goofy hoops fun, you can scoop up seats for $81 including fees on StubHub.
NBA Rookie Game 2026
Friday night’s Rising Stars Challenge, aka the Rookie Game, is where the league’s most talented first and second-year players compete for bragging rights on Friday, Feb. 13.
Tickets can be snagged for $113 including fees on GameTime to see the game’s future stars before they become household names.
Hoping to sit in the lower-level?
We found tickets priced at $310 including fees (also on GameTime).
As of now, rosters have not been announced for the Rising Stars Challenge.
How to watch the 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend festivities
If you can’t make it out to La La Land this year, it’s no biggie.
You can catch the All-Star Game on NBC.
The Rising Stars Challenge and All-Star Saturday Night will also be broadcast on NBC and streamed on Peacock.
ESPN is airing the Celebrity Game this year.
Huge 2026 concert tours
Sadly, the NBA All-Star weekend comes only once every February.
Thankfully, huge concerts drop into cities all over North America year-round.
Here are just five tours we’re most excited about that may be headed to a venue near you soon.
This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.
When the NBA announced the starters for the 2026 NBA All-Star game, there was one name that was left off.
LeBron James.
For 21 years, James has been selected to and named an All-Star starter — an NBA record. But this year always seemed like a long shot, considering how the 2025–26 season has played out thus far.
RUI HACHIMURA FROM THE CORNER FOR THE WIN OFF THE LEBRON JAMES DIME!
After 21 years, LeBron James is no longer an All-Star starter. NBAE via Getty Images
He missed the first 14 games of the season dealing with sciatica, and played far below his standards once he returned. His NBA record of 1,297 consecutive games scoring 10+ points came to end on Dec. 4 against Toronto. Sitting at eight points, James passed up a chance to continue the streak when he found Rui Hachimura open in the corner for a game-winning three-pointer.
In 24 games (out of a possible 41), James is averaging 22.6 points, 6.9 and 5.9 rebounds per game. His points and rebounds per game numbers are the worst in his 23-year career outside of his rookie season.
However, James has found his rhythm since the start of the new year. He’s averaging 26.6 points, 7.6 assists and 7.6 rebounds per game on 52.8 percent shooting from the field.
The voting process for starters is made up of three groups: 50% fan voting; 25% a panel of media voters; 25% player voting. The reserves will be selected by the NBA’s coaches and announced on Sunday.
The Lakers are in the thick of the Western Conference playoff picture, sitting at 25–16 and in sixth place. They’re 1.5 games ahead of the Warriors (eighth place) and three games behind the Nuggets (third place).
Although LeBron isn’t starting, the Lakers will be well represented.
Luka Dončić will be starting alongside Warriors star guard Steph Curry and reigning MVP and Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. They’re joined by Nuggets center Nikola Jokić and Spurs center Victor Wembanyama, who beat out Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards in a tie.
James is pictured with the NBA Rookie of the Year plaque in 2004. FilmMagic
Starting for the Eastern Conference are: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks; Jalen Brunson, Knicks; Cade Cunningham, Pistons; Tyrese Maxey, 76ers; and Jaylen Brown, Celtics.
This year’s All-Star game will look significantly different than the past as the NBA has adopted a “Team USA versus the World” format. The group of All-Stars chosen will be broken down into three rosters; two representing Team USA and one representing international players.
Of the 10 starters announced, five are American and five are international. Once the 14 reserves are announced, if there are fewer than 16 American players or eight international players, NBA commissioner Adam Silver will add more All-Stars until each team represented has eight players.
Tyrese Maxey is making a leap and is fresh off a 29-point, eight-assist, eight-steal performance in a win over the lowly Pacers on Monday evening. Let’s lean into the energy Maxey is creating and do a “5 Sixers thoughts” column dedicated solely to him…
Maxey: All-Star Game starter and… future All-Star Game MVP?
No guard has been this type of lightning force for the Sixers since Allen Iverson’s peak. Iverson’s age-25 season saw him win NBA MVP honors and lead the Sixers to the Finals. While both of those things unfortunately feel a tad out of reach for Maxey in his own age-25 season, there was another accolade that Iverson picked up that year that Maxey could undoubtedly challenge for: All-Star Game MVP.
In a legendary bout at the 2001 All-Star Game in Washington, D.C., Iverson dropped 25 points to go with five assists and four steals as the East beat an ultra-stacked Western Conference squad. With Maxey’s first All-Star starting nod under his belt now for next month’s festivities, he could no doubt heat up and add an All-Star Game MVP Award to his mantle.
I need the New Balance Maxeys
I haven’t bought a pair of fresh basketball sneakers in a long time, settling more so into New Balance trainers and HOKAs for daily use as I’ve progressed into my 30s. That’s a reality check for sure. The era of me gobbling up Air Jordan 11s and 4s with busboy money at the turn of the 2010s is sadly long gone.
I don’t think anyone’s been in a rush to wear some Joel Embiid Sketchers, but, historically, from Charles Barkley to Iverson himself, Sixers players have had some legendary signature sneakers. I need Maxey to continue that tradition. Guards always have better designs than big men anyway…
Remember when…
A 20-year-old rookie Maxey played fewer minutes in the 2021 Eastern Conference Semifinals series against the Hawks (77) than Furkan Korkmaz (139) and 34-year-old George Hill (110)? Awesome stuff. I’m not still bitter or anything! It’s not like that series irrevocably changed my relationship with the Sixers as an entity and the sport of basketball as a whole or anything!
What I most want from Maxey this spring…
I am more of a Sixers pessimist than most even before last week’s skid. I am under no pretense that this team is making the Finals, but my true goal for the Sixers overall this season, and Maxey specifically, is for him to be the best player in a playoff series that the team wins. Sure, people far and wide would joke about it just being another second-round exit from a franchise famous for them, but the equation is so different than it has been at different points in the Joel Embiid era.
A first-round matchup that sees Maxey going nuclear and looking like one of the best players on the planet in victory could even warm my frozen Sixers soul.
The city needs to rally around Maxey more
Look, I know it’s an Eagles city and it always will be. I’m freaking out over who the next offensive coordinator will be just as much as anyone. The Phillies are pissing everyone off before pitchers and catchers even report though. The Flyers are sagging after their own promising start. The Sixers have the floor at the moment. Up-and-downs and injuries, per usual, have kept them from firmly establishing themselves as legitimate Eastern Conference contenders, but isn’t rooting for a guy like Maxey something we always wished for since the dawn of the post-Iverson era?
The Process years were all about establishing Embiid as one of the game’s greatest and while that panned out, it didn’t result in the team success we all dreamed it would bring about. That sucks, but that’s the reality of contention in the modern NBA. I understand people who are jaded and have tuned out since the collapses in 2021 and 2023 and the health setbacks that Embiid has had to endure, but isn’t this what it was all about? Watching an in-prime superstar command the court and make the extraordinary seem ordinary?
A magical run to the Finals isn’t happening in a few months, but what’s to say that’s not the case two years from now with an improved VJ Edgecombe as an elite running mate for this guy? I don’t have to convince the people who read this fine site of that, but I wish Philly felt at least a tad more all in on Maxey.
During the four games Rui Hachimura has played in since returning from his calf injury, his play hasn’t necessarily impressed.
The Lakers forward is averaging 7.8 points, and shooting just 31.3% from 3-point range. Those numbers are a far cry from his season averages of 12.1 points per game and 42.9% shooting percentage from deep.
While Hachimura hasn’t returned to his expected level of play just yet, he did have some bright moments during the Lakers’ win against the Raptors.
In the third quarter, Hachimura scored eight points, knocking down a pair of 3-pointers to help the Lakers take control of the game.
After the win, Hachimura explained that his playing time is still limited and that a good second-half shift can help him get back into a groove.
“I’m still on a minutes restriction, Hachimura said. “I’m still trying to get back to my rhythm and those kind of things help me. It’s a long season. We’re at the halfway point. We have to, as a team, we got to connect to each other again. I think we have one day rest, whatever that is. We got to rest tomorrow and then get back on Tuesday against Denver.”
So the playing time he’s gotten so far is not necessarily an indication of his spot in the rotation.
Once he is available to play with no restrictions, we’ll see whether Redick relegates him to the bench or if he’ll once again start ahead of a player like Jake LaRavia.
For now, the objective for Hachimura has to be to continue ramping up so he can be fully healthy and return to that elite catch-and-shoot player he’s been all season for the purple and gold.
Once he does that, the rest of the details, like when he comes in and whether he starts, will take care of itself.
The Lakers are set to begin an eight-game road trip, so hopefully, at some point during that time away from LA, Hachimura will be fully available to play.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Former NBA star Lamar Odom was arrested on suspicion of DUI in Las Vegas over the weekend, authorities said Tuesday.
Odom, 46, was pulled over Saturday on Interstate 15 near Harry Reid International Airport, according to Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Shawn Haggstrom.
He could face charges including DUI, excessive speed and failure to properly maintain a travel lane, Haggstrom said.
Haggstrom didn't have attorney information for Odom. An email seeking comment from a sports agent for Odom wasn't immediately returned.
Clark County jail records showed that Odom was no longer in custody as of Tuesday.
Odom won championships in 2009 and 2010 with the Los Angeles Lakers. He also played for the Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks during a 14-year NBA career.
His 2013 marriage to Khloe Kardashian was tabloid fodder and the couple appeared together on a reality TV show before divorcing months later. That same year, Odom was arrested for DUI in Los Angeles.
In 2015, Odom made headlines after suffering a medical episode during a stay at a legal brothel in Nevada called Love Ranch.
Who: Phoenix Suns (26-17) @ Philadelphia 76ers (23-18)
When: 5:00 pm Arizona Time
Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Watch: Arizona’s Family 3TV, Arizona’s Family Sports
Listen: KMVP 98.7
Tonight finally looks to be the night that Jalen Green returns for the Phoenix Suns from his two-and-a-half-month absence with a hamstring injury. Before yesterday’s game against the Brooklyn Nets, Suns head coach Jordan Ott said as much, saying that all signs point to him playing in today’s matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Green, 23, was one of the main pieces the Suns acquired when they traded Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets during the offseason. A 20-point scorer for his career, Green played two games for the Suns this year after re-aggravating his hamstring that he had hurt before the season. In two games this season, Green averaged 15.5 points per game in the two contests, but got hurt in the second. Green’s 29 points were the second-most ever scored in a Suns debut, and his six made threes are the most ever in a Suns debut.
Coming into the matchup, the Suns have momentum. Strong games from Dillon Brooks, Devin Booker, and Collin Gillespie, along with the team hitting 20 or more threes, led the team to a 126-117 victory over the Brooklyn Nets for their second in a row and fifth in seven games.
Phoenix is currently tied with the Los Angeles Lakers for sixth in the Western Conference. A win tonight over the Philadelphia 76ers would make them ten games over .500 for the first time this season and since the 2023-24 season. Philadelphia is no easy opponent, however.
Projected Starting Lineups
Injury Report
Suns
Mark Williams — QUESTIONABLE (Right Knee Injury Management)
Jordan Goodwin — AVAILABLE (Jaw Sprain)
76ers
Joel Embiid — OUT (Right Ankle Injury Management)
Paul George — QUESTIONABLE (Left Knee Injury Management)
Johni Broome — DOUBTFUL (Left Thumb)
Kelly Oubre, Jr. — AVAILABLE (Left Knee)
What to Watch For
Obviously, how Jalen Green performs and how the team adjusts to his presence. There’s not a large sample size of how he’ll perform as a Sun, considering he’s played just one whole game without getting hurt, and Dillon Brooks didn’t play in it. Presumably, he’ll be on a minutes restriction, so just because he’s likely to start does not mean that he’ll be playing starters’ minutes.
Look for Devin Booker to be the team’s primary ball handler and shift back to playing point guard, which he did before Collin Gillespie became a starter. The Suns look to have a stronger bench unit if Green is starting. Gillespie and Grayson Allen look to be the team’s first subs, along with Jordan Goodwin playing a combo guard role.
Like Jordan Ott said postgame after the team’s win, there will be bumps in the process of implementing Green into the rotation, but his presence around the team while injured should help.
"We're a top-five defense, that's where it's gonna start. (On) Offense we need his speed."
-Jordan Ott on Jalen Green's pending return and how it will impact the team on the court@BrightSideSun
Both teams are coming off victories yesterday. Joel Embiid hasn’t played in a back-to-back in over two years, and Mark Williams’ status for back-to-backs is always in the air. Even with Green returning, the Suns could be missing one of their starters with a roster that played a game less than 24 hours before tip-off.
If the Suns can do what they did against the Nets, make threes early, move the ball, and limit turnovers, they should be in good shape to get their third-straight win. After being a mystery going into the season, the 76ers are having a strong year. Sitting in fifth in the Eastern Conference, when Joel Embiid has been in the lineup, he’s produced strong numbers, and Tyrese Maxey was just named an All-Star Starter yesterday. Phoenix will have their hands full with Maxey, one of the league’s best guards and leading scorers, they’ll need to find ways to limit his production to get the win.
Prediction
Suns keep the winning ways rolling. Whether Mark Williams plays or not, I don’t expect Joel Embiid to, so Philadelphia won’t have a strong advantage inside. Jalen Green’s return should give Phoenix another ball handler and fresh legs in the second half of a back-to-back. Give me the Suns in a good win.
Anthony Edwards is usually pretty big on statements, so his omission from the All-Star starters should propel the Minnesota Timberwolves tonight as they visit the Utah Jazz.
Edwards erupted for 55 points in the weekend loss to San Antonio, and my Timberwolves vs. Jazz predictions signal another Ant avalanche here against a Utah team that’s lost four in a row.
Get the latest on this January 20 matchup with my free NBA picks and betting tips.
Timberwolves vs Jazz prediction
Timberwolves vs Jazz best bet: Anthony Edwards Over 30.5 points (-112)
There were always going to be some disappointments in the loaded Western Conference All-Star voting. Anthony Edwards wasn’t exactly a snub – he was tied with Victor Wembanyama for the last starting spot – but we’re talking about one of the faces of the NBA having to settle for coming off the bench.
That feels like the kind of slight that Ant would take personally, and I’m banking on a backlash here in Utah. Plus, Edwards is already in scorching form, returning from a foot issue with a masterpiece in San Antonio, where we had made 19 of his 33 shots and scored 26 points in the fourth quarter.
If he did that against a Wemby-led defense, what damage might he do to the Utah Jazz? Utah has given up 120+ points in five of its last six contests, with the Charlotte Hornets hitting the 150-point mark against Will Hardy’s team earlier this month.
Ant has done more of his scoring damage on the road this year, with a 33.1 PPG mark away from Target Center, and he cooked the Jazz in their prior matchups this season, dropping a combined 72 points across two matchups in November.
Look for Edwards to be in the same ballpark again here, especially with a little extra motivation behind him.
Timberwolves vs Jazz same-game parlay
The Over is 27-16 for the Jazz this season, and this game has all the ingredients for a shootout.
Utah has strung together some embarrassing defensive efforts lately, while Minnesota ranks third in the NBA with 120 PPG. The Over has been a winning ticket in six of the Jazz’s last nine contests.
I’m also riding Donte DiVincenzo’s current hot streak. He’s drilled 3+ three-pointers in six of his last seven games, and there could be some extra shots up for grabs if Naz Reid is ruled out with a shoulder injury.
DiVincenzo finished with 14 points in his last outing against Utah.
Timberwolves vs Jazz SGP
Anthony Edwards Over 30.5 points
Over 244.5
Donte DiVincenzo Over 13.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Gobert back at it
Rudy Gobert is off the injury report after missing Minnesota’s loss to the Spurs, and he’s nailed this Over in four of his last five games.
He’s averaging 13.4 RPG so far this month, and Utah will be shorthanded in the frontcourt if Lauri Markkanen sits out.
Over/Under: Over 244.5 (-110) | Under 244.5 (-110)
Timberwolves vs Jazz betting trend to know
The Timberwolves are 9-1 SU in their last 10 meetings with the Jazz, but only 6-4 ATS. Find more NBA betting trends for Timberwolves vs. Jazz.
How to watch Timberwolves vs Jazz
Location
Delta Center, Salt Lake City, UT
Date
Tuesday, January 20, 2026
Tip-off
9:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN North-X, KJZZ
Timberwolves vs Jazz latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
The Golden State Warriors were dealt a devastating blow with Jimmy Butler tearing his ACL last night, ending his season.
Meanwhile, it’s been a roller coaster season for the Toronto Raptors, so can they take advantage of this matchup while the Dubs try to find their bearings without Butler?
My Raptors vs. Warriors predictions and NBA picks break it all down for Tuesday, January 20.
Raptors vs Warriors prediction
Raptors vs Warriors best bet: Raptors +3.5 (-110)
Both the Golden State Warriors and the Toronto Raptors are banged up, but the loss of Jimmy Butler probably makes the Dubs reassess their entire trajectory of this season.
The strength of both teams is defense, with each ranking in the Top 5 in defensive rating. This makes me like the underdog.
Butler's absence, combined with playing the second half of a back-to-back, while getting more than three points with the Raptors as underdogs, is a great spot to back Toronto as the Warriors try to figure out life without Jimmy Buckets.
Raptors vs Warriors same-game parlay
Butler’s first assignment in this game was likely shutting down Brandon Ingram. Ingram is averaging 21.7 points per game this season, and while he’s been in a bit of a slump, this is the perfect opportunity for him to get back on track.
Meanwhile, Immanuel Quickley has had an up-and-down season for the Raptors, but he’s averaging 17.6 points per game over his last 13 and has topped 15.5 points 10 times over that stretch.
Raptors vs Warriors SGP
Raptors +3.5
Brandon Ingram Over 23.5 points
Immanuel Quickley Over 16.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Picking Up the Slack
Let's add a couple of Warriors who could step up in Jimmy Buckets' absence to the Raptors point scorers we already have.
The Warriors have only covered the 1H Spread in 18 of their last 45 games for -12.90 Units and a -25% ROI. Find more NBA betting trends for Raptors vs. Warriors.
How to watch Raptors vs Warriors
Location
Chase Center, San Francisco, CA
Date
Tuesday, January 20, 2026
Tip-off
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
Sportsnet, NBC Sports Bay Area
Raptors vs Warriors latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
January 2026 has been a shock for the Washington Wizards. Early in the month, there was speculation that then-Atlanta Hawks guard Trey Young may be a target for Washington and that Young preferred the Wizards. In a matter of days, Young got traded to the Wizards for a relatively low price asset-wise: Corey Kispert and CJ McCollum. So using that line of thinking, a recent piece by Joshua Robbins of The Athletic indicates that New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson could also be a target for Washington considering how quickly the Wizards acquired Young.
The Pelicans, at least on the record, do not intend to trade him. But considering his injury history despite his talent, if the Wizards offer some compensation their way, it’s possible that the Pelicans could listen. Here is an excerpt from Robbins’ piece:
With the Young trade as the template of a low-cost trade for a distressed asset, league sources speculated that New Orleans Pelicans big man Zion Williamson would be someone the Wizards would have to consider if the price is right.
The Pelicans reportedly have told teams they’re not going to trade Williamson, Herb Jones, Trey Murphy III, Derik Queen or Jeremiah Fears. As it pertains to Williamson only, however, league sources expressed skepticism to The Athletic about that report.
League sources said they cannot envision any scenario in which Washington would give up one of its own future first-round picks. But one source speculated that a pick owed to the Wizards, such as the least favorable of the Houston Rockets’ (top-four protected), LA Clippers and Oklahoma City Thunder’s 2026 first-round picks, might satisfy the Pelicans’ goals.
To be crystal clear: The Wizards trading for Williamson appears to be an extreme long shot. But it was mentioned as a possibility by enough league sources that it at least should be mentioned here.
The Wizards made noise early this month by acquiring one of the league’s most potent scorers. So, knowing how quickly that move happened, who knows what could happen with Williamson? Let us know in the comments below.
When the Knicks first started to struggle, fans and analysts were quick to diagnose the problem as fatigue, with a side of some schematic issues, and players just playing badly. But with every passing game, their so-called rough stretch looks less and less like a stretch, and more and more like who they actually are going to be the rest of the way. And in a lot of these losses, they don’t just look tired or like they aren’t executing. They look like a disjointed and dysfunctional team, if you can even call them that. During so many timeouts and blowouts, the players aren’t picking each other up, aren’t coming together, and it’s turned a lot of fans into sleuths and even lip readers.
Yet all of that until recently was just speculation. But after the Knicks’ latest embarrassment, which came in the shape of a beatdown at the hands of the struggling Mavericks, players seemed to finally start voicing a bit more of their opinions on what’s taken place.
Deuce McBride, who’s never been one to shy away from being honest and transparent, talked about how the team has had some underlying issues that were masked with wins earlier in the season, and how the Knicks have gotten way too comfortable while their opponents have been hungrier.
"That's been the main thing over the last 11, teams are coming out more hungrier than us. When you get comfortable, when you've won, I think that's human nature and we have to fight against it"
Josh Hart, who is often labeled as the heart of the team and is among the most vocal players on the team, said, “We have to make sure we have a professional mindset to everything. We gotta come in & be locked in. We can’t go into practice & have things said several times; we can’t come out & not execute an ATO.”
"We have to make sure we have a professional mindset to everything. We gotta come in & be locked in. We can't go into practice & have things said several times; we can't come out & not execute an ATO…At the end of the day that's the guys that have this jersey on"
Hart also spoke candidly about the need to look in the mirror, saying, “We all need to do some soul-searching. Some are looking in the mirror. Right now we’re playing embarrassing basketball. We’re not executing on the offensive end. Defensively, we’ve been abysmal. We’ve been terrible defensively all year”.
"We all need to do some soul-searching. Some looking in the mirror. Right now we're playing embarrassing basketball. We're not executing on the offensive end. Defensively, we've been abysmal. We've been terrible defensively all year"
And that was just seconds after looking, and sounding a bit lost when asked about why the team didn’t show up.
And that was after the broadcast caught Brunson trying to rally the guys together and instill that sense of urgency in everyone else.
"At some point we gotta wake up…create some energy for ourselves. They're not gonna give it to us…our own f*king energy…Wake the f*k up…It's up to us…And don't watch the frigging news"
–– AI on what Jalen Brunson said to Knicks during loss to Mavs (incomplete/imperfect) pic.twitter.com/OLVQlvguON
The honesty and frustrations didn’t end there as head coach Mike Brown, who has received his own share of criticisms, voiced his frustrations postgame.
On one side, it’s nice to see a team realize that they are indeed playing not just a bad brand of basketball, but doing so with an overall embarrassing level of effort, energy, and physicality, or lack thereof. On the other hand, it’s frustrating to see them acknowledge it, say the right things, and still do nothing to fix it. And all while that’s going on, this team, maybe more so than any other struggling team, has looked lifeless. We may never find out if this is because of the coaching change, something that happened in the locker room, or if it has to do with players not being happy with their roles. But one thing is for sure. This team is in a dark place. And that’s not just about their recent record or the results.
They look like a group of individuals, and not a team. They don’t look like they enjoy playing with each other, or even being around each other. That’s led to them being much worse than the sum of their parts, and that’s a concern considering the earlier reports that the front office is looking to stick with this core throughout the rest of the season. Because unless something magical happens off the court, and in the lockerroom, the on-court results and process likely won’t change much. And if that’s going to be the case, you can make a strong argument that this team needs a change for the sake of change, even if it means a potential downgrade on paper.
Warriors star Steph Curry, right, has surpassed the Lakers' Luka Dončić in jersey sales in the first half of the 2025-26 season. (Credit: Getty Images)
We're officially at the halfway mark of the NBA season, and the league has released its top jersey sellers from the first half of the 2025-26 campaign.
Warriors star Steph Curry leads the pack at midseason as he looks to dethrone Luka Dončić. Last season, the newly acquired Lakers cornerstone became the first player to lead the league in jersey sales not named Curry or LeBron James.
Dončić currently sits second this season with James at fifth. The Lakers are the only team with two players in the top 15.
The lone rookie to crack the top 15, unsurprisingly, is Cooper Flagg. The No. 1 overall pick of the 2025 NBA Draft is well on his way to winning Rookie of the Year. Recent projections have his odds sitting at about -900, meaning you would have to bet $900 to win $100.
Ironically, Jayson Tatum made the top 15 instead of his counterpart, Jaylen Brown. Both made the top 15 last season, with Tatum finishing at No. 4 and Brown at No. 15. But halfway through the season, Brown has fallen off the leaderboard, despite putting up MVP-type numbers.
Without Tatum, who is recovering from a torn Achilles tendon, Brown is the fourth-leading scorer in the NBA (29.8 PPG) and has the Celtics sitting second in the East. Tatum, meanwhile, checks in at eighth on this list, ahead of Nikola Jokić, Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Jimmy Butler has played for the Bulls, Timberwolves, 76ers, Heat and Warriors in his career [Reuters]
Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler will miss the rest of the season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.
Butler, 36, sustained the injury in the third quarter of the Warriors' 135-112 win over the Miami Heat on Monday.
His agent Bernie Lee confirmed the news in a statement to ESPN, calling it a "gut punch" to Butler and the Warriors team.
After a mixed start to the season, the Warriors have won 12 of their past 16 games and are eighth in the Western Conference, with a record of 25 win and 19 losses.
The top six teams in each conference qualify directly for the play-offs, with the teams ranked seventh to 10th competing in the play-in tournament.
Butler's injury leaves the Warriors facing a decision on how to approach the rest of their season and the market before the trade deadline on 5 February.
Under coach Steve Kerr and with star point guard Stephen Curry, the Warriors have won four NBA titles since 2015 but have been a fading force since their last championship win in 2022.
The Warriors acquired Butler from the Heat in February 2025 to give Curry, 37, a star team-mate to support another championship bid, but must now consider whether to seek further reinforcements or rebuild for the future.
However, Lee is confident six-time All-Star Butler, who is contracted with the Warriors to the end of the 2026-27 season, will bounce back from this injury blow to win his first NBA title.
"I've known for over 10 years now that Jimmy is going to win a championship before he is done," said Lee. "My belief in that is unwavering."
Like a lot of NBA players, Tyrese Maxey’s pregame routine includes a post-shootaround nap. That nap happens to occur during the 2 p.m. hour, the very time the league was set to announce its starters Monday for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game in Los Angeles.
So, when the news broke, everyone was excited for him, including rookie teammate VJ Edgecombe, who was blowing up Maxey’s phone.
“I had my alarm set for 2 o’clock,” the rookie said. “I was going to protest if he didn’t make it as a starter. Would’ve been a problem.”
But Maxey didn’t answer.
He was asleep.
“I’m like, ‘why is he calling me?’ And I answered and he’s screaming and showing me the TV,” Maxey said pregame Monday. “Then my mom called me and then I said, ‘listen, I’m going back to sleep. I got work tonight.‘”
That’s a pretty good encapsulation of Maxey. He was grateful and humbled by the honor, but ultimately just wanted to hoop.
And what better way to cap off the day than by helping snap his team’s two-game losing skid with a 113-104 win over the Indiana Pacers on Martin Luther King Jr. Day?
In his sixth NBA season, Maxey is an All-Star starter. This will also mark the second appearance in the game for the 25-year-old. He’s earned it on the floor, posting career highs across the board in points, assists, rebounds, steals, blocks and made threes per game. He earned it from the fan voting, finishing with the fourth-most overall, the second-most in the conference, and the most for an American-born player.
It wasn’t Maxey’s finest game of the season Monday. The Pacers loaded up on him in a big way through the first three quarters, forcing him to turn defense into offense — and that he did. Maxey recorded 29 points, eight assists and a career-high eight steals.
He’s just the 10th Sixer to ever record at least eight steals in a game. The New Orleans Pelicans’ Herb Jones is the only other player in the NBA to have at least eight steals in a game this season. He also recorded a block and is averaging over a block a game this season. If he finishes the season averaging over a block game, he’d be the first player at 6-foot-2 or shorter to do so in league history (since blocks became an official stat), per Stathead.
It’s just another way Maxey can help his team win games.
“This is kind of how I played in high school,” he said. “I was able to get in the passing lanes, get steals, get some on-ball steals, little strip steals or blocks, whatever they call them. … I just want to make an impact on the defensive end. I feel like I’ve done that this year.”
The hope is no doubt for Edgecombe to be on the receiving end of one of those calls in the not-so-distant future. After a disagreement on the bench went viral last week, both guys sort of laughed the whole thing off. They’re competitive. They want to win. That’s why they’ve bonded so quickly on and off the court.
The rookie has savored the opportunity to play with a like-minded veteran in Maxey.
“His work ethic, his leadership, his character, and obviously his style of play,” Edgecombe said. “He’s an unbelievable player, really special talent, and I get to watch him every day, just go out there and work.”
It feels like just yesterday Maxey was a rookie heaping praise on Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons for making All-Star teams and getting accolades. It’s clear now the torch is being passed.
“That’s a great accomplishment, especially as a starter,” Embiid, the seven-time All-Star, said. “It’s only the beginning. It’s a testament to the work he’s put in, and him taking another step this year. That’s amazing.”
