Category: Basketball

Basketball News

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Josh Pastner will try to restore UNLV basketball glory days as he takes over the program

Josh Pastner was named UNLV coach Tuesday, the latest to try to turn around a college basketball program that has gone from one of the nation's best to one that is largely irrelevant. The Rebels have not made the NCAA Tournament since 2013 and have not advanced to at least the Sweet 16 since 2007. “This has always been a dream job for me, and I fully recognize the significance of UNLV in the landscape of college basketball,” Pastner said in a statement.

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Christie calls LaVine ‘incorrect' for Kings vibes comment

Christie calls LaVine ‘incorrect' for Kings vibes comment originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Kings interim coach Doug Christie doesn’t agree with guard Zach LaVine‘s recent comments. 

Following Sacramento’s 113-95 loss to the Boston Celtics on Monday night at Golden 1 Center, LaVine, visibly upset while speaking to reporters, referred to the Kings’ vibes as “not good” after falling under .500 for the first time since Feb. 7. 

Less than 24 hours later, while addressing the media prior to Sacramento’s matchup against the Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night, Christie pointed to why LaVine’s comments were inaccurate. 

Or, as Christie said …

“He was incorrect,” Christie told reporters (h/t Sactown Sports 1140’s Brenden Nunes).

Sitting at 35-36, the Kings quickly are sinking in a tight West playoff race, winning just three of their last 10 games. 

The team’s struggles are reflected in LaVine’s most recent performances, averaging 12.7 points on 15-of-42 shooting (35.7 percent) from the field and 3 of 15 (20 percent) from 3-point range throughout Sacramento’s current three-game losing streak. 

As Christie alluded to, the Kings’ locker room atmosphere, with every excuse to feel down, was optimistic on Monday night. 

“I think when you ask a question like that, after you go through a little bit of a losing streak, it’s more about not being happy that you lost,” Christie added. 

“Like, I’m upset that I lost. But when I addressed them upstairs, everybody sat down, and the first thing I said was, ‘I’m happy to see that your vibe is right because I was about to say something.’ 

“But their vibe was spectacular. But that’s how it’s always been, and I know Zach takes this serious, and they all do, but there’s also understanding that your vibe ain’t only right when you’re winning… but I’m not about that, and that locker room ain’t going to be about that.

Like Christie, guard Keon Ellis echoed a sentiment that dispels any negative tension in Sacramento. 

As the regular season comes down to 11 games –  including a six-game road trip with stops against the Orlando Magic, Indiana Pacers, Washington Wizards, Charlotte Hornets, Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons – Christie hopes his team walks together, shoulder to shoulder. 

Even when the results aren’t going Sacramento’s way.

“It’s going to be about trying to figure it out, trying to problem solve, uplifting my brother, supporting my brother, and that goes with however many games you lose,” Christie concluded.

“And at the same time, we’re elated and happy when we win. But it’s a process to what we have to go through. It’s a lot that’s happened here in a really, really short amount of time, and that’s just a reality, no excuse. 

“We expect to win every game that we go out there and play, because I think that we have the talent to do that, and when it doesn’t, it hurts, and it’s supposed to hurt…”

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What we learned as Butler's Miami return ends in ugly Warriors loss

What we learned as Butler's Miami return ends in ugly Warriors loss originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

BOX SCORE

Jimmy Butler III’s return trip to Miami was less a revenge game than another stain on the Warriors’ suddenly spiraling season.

Golden State trailed from the start, never got close enough to touch the Miami Heat and wound up on the business end of a 112-86 walloping that delivered all manner of ominous signals.

This loss, the Warriors’ second in a row following a 124-115 beating by the Atlanta Hawks, continues their sudden return trip toward mediocrity. They’ve lost three of their last five games, and this one was a profoundly unsatisfying conclusion to a game that came with tangled emotions.

Four Warriors scored in double figures, led by Jonathan Kuminga’s 15 points, but they were routed in every conceivable way.

Here are three observations from a nightmare on South Beach:

Butler vs. Wiggins

Two names were on the marquee at tipoff: Jimmy Butler and Andrew Wiggins. They were traded for each other last month, and each was going to be a significant contributor to whatever happened on the court.

There wasn’t much of a battle, but Wiggins was superior. And his team won the war decisively.

The former Golden State NBA All-Star finished with 10 points (4 of 13 from the field, 2 of 4 from beyond the arc), five rebounds, five assists, three blocks and two steals. He played 28 minutes and finished plus-2.

Butler, who claimed this would be “just another game” on the schedule, coped with a mixture of cheers and boos throughout. He finished with 11 points (5 of 12 from the field, 0 of 2 from deep), seven rebounds, two assists and two steals. He was minus-19 over 29 minutes.

Weakened Offense Expected, But Defense Also Putrid

Stephen Curry’s absence always compromises Golden State’s offense – and surely it did – but what is the excuse for the defense?

After consecutive games with porous defense, the Warriors realized they needed to upgrade their intensity. They were unable to do it.

The Heat cooked them in the first quarter, fired up a blowtorch in the second quarter and built 57-40 lead off 53.8-percent shooting from the field, including a preposterous 72.7 percent beyond the arc. Starting guards Tyler Herro and Alec Burks combined for 23 points on 8 of 10 shooting, including 5 of 6 from distance.

Miami shot 55.8 percent from the field, including 68 percent from distance.

Golden State in its two previous games allowed the Hawks to shoot 57 percent from the field, including 41.7 percent from deep, and the Toronto Raptors to post 56.4/42.3 percent splits.

Shoddy defense suddenly is becoming the biggest threat to the Warriors’ hopes of staying above the NBA play-in tournament fray.

Bench Came To Play

The only encouraging sign for Golden State came from the play of its bench.

With Buddy Hield, Gui Santos and Kuminga leading the way, the Warriors’ reserves punished those of the Heat, outscoring them 30-2 in the first half and 48-24 for the game. Hield scored 10 points and Santos had 13 on 5-of-8 shooting, including 3 of 6 beyond the arc. Santos and Gary Payton II (four points, 2 of 2 shooting) were the only two Warriors to shoot at least 50 percent.

How bad was the overall bench discrepancy? Golden State’s bench outscored its starters 30-10 in the first half and 48-38 for the game.

This was, for the starters, one of the lousiest performances of the 2024-25 NBA season.

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Thunder vs. Kings Predictions: Odds, recent stats, trends, best bets for March 25

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Sacramento Kings Preview 

The Oklahoma City Thunder (59-12) and Sacramento Kings (35-36) are all set to square off from Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.

The Kings are on the second leg of a back-to-back. Last night they lost against the Boston Celtics. Now they play against the number one seed Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Thunder are currently 28-7 on the road with a point differential of 13, while the Kings have a 5-5 record in their last ten games at home. 

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

Game details & how to watch Thunder vs. Kings live today

  • Date: Tuesday, March 25, 2025
  • Time: 6:00PM EST
  • Site: Golden 1 Center
  • City: Sacramento, CA

Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Thunder vs. Kings

The latest odds as of Tuesday:

  • Odds: Thunder (-391), Kings (+308)
  • Spread:  Thunder -9
  • Over/Under: 227 points

That gives the Thunder an implied team point total of 117.08, and the Kings 112.4.

Expert picks & predictions for Tuesday's Thunder vs. Kings game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

 Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas) is betting on the Oklahoma City Thunder -9.5…

Thomas: “Second half of a back-to-back against a damn good Thunder team. I like this price a lot.”
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Thunder & Kings game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Oklahoma City Thunder on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Sacramento Kings at +9.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 227.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!
 
Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Thunder vs. Kings on Tuesday

  • The Thunder have won 4 of their last 5 at Western Conference Pacific Division teams
  • The Over is 41-30 in Thunder's games this season 

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
 
Bet the Edge is your source for all things sports betting. Get all of Jay Croucher and Drew Dinsick’s insight weekdays at 6AM ET right here or wherever you get your favorite podcasts. 
 
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff: 
- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper) 
- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) 
- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

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Top-seeded Auburn brushes off late-season lull to make Sweet 16 with contributions abound

Auburn has brushed off a late-season lull that had some questioning whether the Tigers deserved their top billing as the overall No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Now, Auburn is in its first Sweet 16 since 2019 looking to top that Final Four run with its first national championship. Most notable in this run is the different Tigers stepping up to help Associated Press All-American Johni Broome carry the load.

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Mavericks vs. Knicks Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for March 25

It’s Tuesday, March 25, and the Dallas Mavericks (35-37) and New York Knicks (44-26) are all set to square off from Madison Square Garden in New York.

The Mavericks are currently 15-21 on the road with a point differential of 0, while the Knicks have a 7-3 record in their last ten games at home. Dallas is 1-0 against New York with a win on November 27, 129-114.

Dallas has won two straight games after losing the four before, while New York is coming off a 17-point win over Washington that broke a two-game losing streak.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

Game details & how to watch Mavericks vs. Knicks live today

  • Date: Tuesday, March 25, 2025
  • Time: 7:30PM EST
  • Site: Madison Square Garden
  • City: New York, NY
  • Network/Streaming:

Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Mavericks vs. Knicks

The latest odds as of Tuesday:

  • Odds: Mavericks (+245), Knicks (-305)
  • Spread:  Knicks -7.5
  • Over/Under: 222 points

That gives the Mavericks an implied team point total of 109.91, and the Knicks 113.82.

Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Tuesday’s Mavericks vs. Knicks game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Mavericks Team Total Under 106.5:

"Jalen Brunson, Kyrie Irving, and Anthony Davis will not be available for this game, so I am expecting far fewer points when the Knicks and Mavericks meet this time. The first matchup had a combined 243 points and this game total is hovering in the low 220's. With Dallas being on a back-to-back after the 19-point win over Brooklyn last night, I like the Mavericks team total Under 106.5 against New York. The Knicks had Sunday and Monday off, so New York has a clear rest advantage."

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Mavericks & Knicks game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Dallas Mavericks on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Dallas Mavericks at +7.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 222.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Mavericks vs. Knicks on Tuesday

  • The Knicks have won 4 of their last 5 matchups against Western Conference Southwest Division teams
  • The Under is 7-3 in the Knicks' last 10 games
  • The Mavericks have covered the Spread in their last 3 matchups with the Knicks
  • The Knicks have won 8 of their last 10 games against teams with losing records

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)

- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)

- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)

- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

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Doc Rivers pushes back against "unfair" criticism of blown 3-1 playoff series leads

Doc Rivers has coached 20 teams to the NBA playoffs, has won more postseason games than he has lost, has won a Coach of the Year award (2000), has a championship ring from the 2008 Boston Celtics, is about to pass Phil Jackson for seventh on the all-time coaching wins list, and was named among the 15 greatest coaches in NBA history by the league.

However, ask most fans about Rivers as a coach and the first thing that comes up is the three blown 3-1 leads in playoff series — he is the only coach in league history to blow multiple 3-1 leads in the postseason.

Rivers pushed back against that narrative, speaking to Andscape’s Marc J. Spears.

"It is what it is. It's part of my legacy. There's nothing I can do about it. I got a team that was an eight seed up 3-1. That is coaching. That is not bad coaching. The one with the Clippers is the only one that got away. But people don't realize that Chris Paul was running on one leg [in 2015 with the Clippers] and we were also the underdog in that series. When you think about it, Houston had home court, not us.

"No one tells a real story. And I'm fine with that. It's unfair in some ways. I don't get enough credit for getting the three wins. I get credit for losing. I always say, 'What if we had lost to Houston in six?' No one cares. One of the things that I'm proud of is we've never been swept. All the coaches have been swept in the playoffs. My teams achieve. A lot of them overachieve and I'm very proud of that."

Maybe the most famous of those blown leads was in the bubble in 2020, when Rivers coached a title contender in the Clippers who were up 3-1 on the Nuggets and lost.

"No, in the bubble, I had a group of guys that didn't want to be there. [Ex-Clippers guard] Lou Williams said [on a podcast in 2023], 'Look, we were trying to leave. We made the decision that we didn't want to be there.' So, I felt that... And what bugs me about the bubble is I couldn't get them to understand that we had a chance to win [a title]. That's what bugs me. They wanted to go home more than they wanted to win. And I still don't understand that."

Rivers isn't totally wrong — his teams are making the playoffs and often with good seeds. The first of those blown leads was in 2003 when he coached an eight-seed Orlando team against top-seeded Detroit, getting that team up 3-1 was impressive. The 2020 blown lead against Denver, on a Clippers team with two-time Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard, will always be the one that got away.

Rivers is a quality NBA coach, without question. Whether he gets the most out of his team and knows how to motivate them in the playoffs is a legitimate question, but he will get another chance to prove himself this season with a Bucks team with high expectations but maybe not the roster to live up to them. Can he get this team to overachieve?

And hold on to leads?

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Warriors vs. Heat Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for March 25

It’s Tuesday, March 25, and the Golden State Warriors (41-30) and Miami Heat (30-41) are all set to square off from Kaseya Center in Miami.

The Warriors are currently 18-16 on the road with a point differential of 2, while the Heat have a 2-8 record in their last ten games at home. Miami won the only meeting of the season, 116-98, as Jimmy Butler missed that meeting because of a suspension via the team.

Miami broke a 10-game losing streak with a 15-point victory over Charlotte on Sunday. Golden State is 16-4 since acquiring Butler and 9-2 over the last 11 games.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

Game details & how to watch Warriors vs. Heat live today

  • Date: Tuesday, March 25, 2025
  • Time: 7:30PM EST
  • Site: Kaseya Center
  • City: Miami, FL
  • Network/Streaming: TNT / MAX

Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Warriors vs. Heat

The latest odds as of Tuesday:

  • Odds: Warriors (-191), Heat (+160)
  • Spread:  Warriors -5.5
  • Over/Under: 218.5 points

That gives the Warriors an implied team point total of 111.98, and the Heat 107.13.

Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Tuesday’s Warriors vs. Heat game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans Jimmy Butler to go Under 6.5 rebounds:

"Over the last 10 games, Butler averages 10.0 rebound chances per game and 6.4 of those converted and 7.4 converted on 11.4 potential boards in the past five outings. However, Miami is obviously his former team, so there will be more physicality in this game and potential for a blowout as well (in favor of Golden State). Butler recorded six or more rebounds in four straight games until four boards in the previous outing and 10-9 to the Under 6.5 rebounds since joining Golden State. I like Butler to go Under 6.5 boards at -105 odds."

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Warriors & Heat game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Miami Heat at +4.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 218.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Warriors vs. Heat on Tuesday

  • The Warriors have won 4 of their last 5 matchups against Eastern Conference Southeast Division teams
  • Each of the last 4 matchups between the Warriors and the Heat have stayed under the Total
  • The Heat have covered the Spread in 5 of their last 6 games as a home underdog
  • The Warriors' last 4 versus the Heat have stayed under the Total

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)

- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)

- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)

- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

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Sean Miller takes over Texas men’s program looking for consistent March Madness success

Sean Miller beat Texas in the NCAA Tournament barely a week ago, bouncing the Longhorns out early and ensuring they would be making a coaching change. “I don't think I've ever been more excited in my life,” Miller said at his introductory news conference on campus. Miller also said it was hard to leave Xavier, a program where he coached twice, most notably when he returned there in 2022 after he was fired at Arizona.

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NBA Owners Set to Vote on Proposed European League

NBA owners are set to vote this week on a plan to launch a pro basketball league in Europe, one that would help expand the sport’s presence across the continent and give the NBA a chance to share more directly in the economics of that growth.

League owners are considering a new league with eight to 10 franchises, according to someone directly familiar with the plans. It’s a “semi-open” proposal, the person said, meaning there would be up to four spots for the best teams in the EuroLeague—the continent’s top circuit with teams like Real Madrid in Spain and Greece’s Olympiacos—to compete in the NBA’s league the following year. The franchises in places like London or Paris could sell for at least $500 million, according to the proposal.

The league would sell the permanent franchise slots to outside investors, with the NBA holding 50% of the equity and franchise owners holding the other 50%, said the person, who was granted anonymity because the details are private. That’s a setup identical to the equity structure of the WNBA up until the league raised outside capital in 2022.

As it stands, NBA officials would prefer to sell those franchises to people outside of the league, the person said, meaning sovereign wealth funds, private capital, wealthy individuals or existing European basketball clubs.

NBA owners are set to vote on the proposal during league meetings this week in New York. A representatives for the NBA didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. A rep for the Raine Group, which is advising the league on the matter, declined to comment.

The vote comes after more than a year of discussions about how the NBA might better optimize its business in Europe. The league has generated a few hundred million dollars annually from Europe in recent years, but interest on the continent is growing, as is the number of talented players. The NBA believes the basketball system in Europe and the Middle East could be worth as much as $3 billion in annual revenue, Sportico reported last year.

The NBA considered deeper partnerships with the EuroLeague and/or the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), including the possibility to utilizing the NBA’s marketing and commercial operations to assist the EuroLeague in selling sponsorships, Sportico previously reported. It also considered a more international competition beyond just Europe. Discussions about a new standalone league happened simultaneously.

Overseas opportunities have been a growing priority for the NBA over the last four decades, ever since the league did its first deal in China in the last 1980s. Despite the 2019 Hong Kong controversy, the league’s China endeavors have grown into a multibillion-dollar business. In 2021, the league launched the Basketball Africa League (BAL), operated in partnership by the NBA and FIBA. NBA Africa brought in strategic investors including a consortium led by Tunde Folawiyo, chairman of Yinka Folawiyo Group  and Helios Fairfax Partners, led by co-CEO Tope Lawani, for the NBA’s first standalone league outside of North America.

The NBA has played 40 regular-season games outside the U.S. and Canada, dating back to the 1990s, and dozens more preseason contests. It didn’t play regular season games in Europe until 2011, when it played in London. The league has held five regular-season games in France in the last few years.

There were 125 foreign-born players on NBA rosters at the start of this season, the highest total in league history. That includes 62 from Europe, including stars Nikola Jokić, Luka Dončić and Victor Wembanyama. The past six NBA MVPs were non-American; there were just four in league history prior to that.

New leagues are popping up seemingly weekly across virtually every sport, basketball included. This year was the first season of Unrivaled, a 3-on-3 women’s circuit in Florida that featured some of the WNBA’s biggest names. Bloombergreported in January that Maverick Carter, LeBron James’ business partner, was advising a group looking to raise $5 billion for an international basketball league to “rival the NBA.”

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Stylistic versatility: Those left in the NCAA Tournament have proven they can win a lot of ways

Houston and Gonzaga met in a second-round NCAA Tournament matchup last weekend in Wichita, Kansas, that could as easily have been played in the Final Four, the way Kelvin Sampson's and Mark Few's teams had played throughout the season. The Cougars were No. 1 in scoring defense, more than a half-point better than the next-best team. The Bulldogs were No. 2 in scoring offense, trailing only Alabama in putting up nearly 87 points per game.