Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam said last month that he wanted to have the situation with the two-time league MVP settled before the June 23 draft. "Because if Giannis does play somewhere else, we've got to have a lot of assets. That's Jon's (GM Jon Horst) job to do. And if he's here, then you build the team differently," Haslam told reporters May 6.
The Bucks grasp the magnitude of moving the greatest player in franchise history, one who ranks first in points (21,531), rebounds (8,882), assists (4,484), blocks (1,088), triple-doubles (56) and games played (895). So the price to land him isn't going to be cheap.
With the clock ticking, a deal would have to come together pretty quickly.
ESPN insider Shams Charania was on "The Pat McAfee Show" to weigh in deeper on the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors.
"Bucks executives are literally right now in their offices figuring out which direction they're going to go," Charania said. "Because there are two offers right now that it's come down to at a serious and significant level.
"That's the Celtics offer, led by Jaylen Brown, who is a superstar, there's other additional pieces of that deal. Or an offer from the Miami Heat that consists of several players – players that you have control over on rookie-scale contracts, guys you can extend at a reasonable number and a surplus of draft capital."
"The Bucks are trying to navigate internally, which direction do we go?"@ShamsCharania expects Milwaukee to trade Giannis "as soon as today." 👀
Miami’s offer is pretty clear-cut: Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware and other younger players combined with draft assets that include the No. 13 overall selection in this year’s draft. The Heat have been the most active and consistent team in Antetokounmpo talks, going back to the February trading deadline, if not years earlier.
Celtics or Heat? Heat or Celtics? According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, "a split faction of Milwaukee’s decision makers, sources say, is deciding between Boston’s package for Giannis Antetokounmpo built around Jaylen Brown" or "Miami’s offer of younger pieces — featuring Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez — and multiple first-round picks." The established MVP candidate versus greater overall value is what this whole saga has boiled down to one day before the NBA Draft."
ESPN insider Shams Charania said on "Get Up" on Monday morning that Giannis Antetokounmpo is expected to be traded before Tuesday's NBA draft.
"Sources tell me a trade and a resolution is coming for the Milwaukee Bucks with Giannis Antetokounmpo before the NBA draft on Tuesday night," Charania said. "The Bucks are in serious conversations with two finalists: the Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics. Both teams are Giannis' preferred trade destinations, but both of these packages are different deals. The variance of these deals is dramatic."
ESPN's Brian Windhorst reports that even if the Celtics don't trade Jaylen Brown in a deal to get Giannis Antetokounmpo, they still might move him.
"I think the Celtics have taken a hard look in the mirror and they have decided, 'We weren't going to beat the Knicks,'" Windhorst said on "Get Up" on Monday morning.
Windhorst continued: "I am now speculating that if Jaylen Brown doesn’t get traded for Giannis, they may trade him somewhere else. So that is one of the things that has emerged. Now, Miami understands that Jaylen Brown is in there.; they can’t match that. Miami in recent days has gone out to try and recruit third and fourth teams to improve their offer."
The Heat know that Jaylen Brown is on the table, and are searching for 3rd and 4th teams to get involved to improve their offer for Giannis, per @WindhorstESPN
NBA insider Marc Stein reported overnight that the Boston Celtics could offer the Bucks a package headlined by five-time All-Star forward Jaylen Brown.
UPDATE: One league source, after my story published, told @TheSteinLine that the Celtics emerged from the weekend “with a real shot” to win this race with a Jaylen Brown-centric offer … adding that Milwaukee has considered going ahead even without a third-team facilitator. https://t.co/aaeQ1agUKX
However, sources reportedly told The Stein Line's Jake Fischer earlier this month that the Warriors have not factored into any recent trade talks for Antetokounmpo.
Could Timberwolves be a stealth candidate?
ESPN's Ramona Shelburne agreed with the overall leaguewide consensus that the Heat and Celtics are among the most likely destinations for Antetokounmpo. However, she floated another dark horse team into the mix: the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Shelburne highlighted a potential pairing with guard Anthony Edwards, "who's been successful in the playoffs, but has not gotten over that hump. You're on the clock with a superstar of that caliber in his 20s."
The Heat, Celtics, and Timberwolves are in a 3 team race for Giannis, per @ramonashelburne
"Right now it's really 3 teams you hear most about. The Boston Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami Heat.... For Boston, it would be the best player they could give Jayson Tatum to play… pic.twitter.com/PbxOYZd9rg
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 2: Charles Barkley #34 of the Phoenix Suns looks on during the game against the Boston Celtics at the Boston Garden on April 2, 1993 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1993 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The names are about to be read. The 2026 NBA Draft is tomorrow, and new names will join the annals of NBA history. But today, we arrive at the final chapter of this six-part series, identifying the best player ever drafted at each draft position in NBA history. And without question, the top 10 was the toughest section of this entire project.
I’ll admit something. I probably spent way too much time thinking about these selections. I’d write a few paragraphs supporting one player, feel pretty good about my choice, take my dog for a walk, and come back with an entirely different opinion. That’s what happens when you get to this part of the draft. You’re no longer comparing good players to great players. You’re comparing franchise icons to Hall of Famers. MVPs to champions. Players who defined generations against players who changed the sport itself.
It becomes less about identifying the correct answer and more about deciding which argument you find most compelling. Because that’s the thing about exercises like this. There isn’t a correct answer.
The word “best” is inherently subjective. It’s an arbitrary debate built on personal values, statistical accomplishments, championships, longevity, peak performance, cultural impact, and whatever other criteria you choose to prioritize. Every fan weighs those categories differently, which is why two intelligent basketball fans can look at the same list of accomplishments and arrive at completely different conclusions.
As we’ve moved closer and closer to the top of the draft, the decisions have become increasingly difficult. The honorable mention sections have gotten longer. The debates have become more nuanced. And the margins separating players have become razor-thin.
That’s especially true in the top 10. These aren’t simply great players. These are players who carried franchises. Players who won MVPs. Players who lifted trophies. Players whose names are permanently woven into the history of the NBA.
So let’s take one final trip through draft history and see where this journey ends. And if I change my mind three more times along the way, well, that wouldn’t exactly be surprising.
10. Paul Pierce (1998)
CHARLOTTE, NC – OCTOBER 19: Paul Pierce of the Boston Celtics during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on October 19, 1999 at Charlotte Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Sporting News via Getty Images via Getty Images) | Sporting News via Getty Images
Honorable Mentions:
Paul George (2010)
Joe Johnson (2001)
Paul Westphal (1972)
Paul Silas (1964)
Suns Taken at 10:
Greg Howard (1970)
Ron Lee (1976)
Ed Pickney (1985)
Mikal Bridges (2018)*
Jalen Smith (2020)
Khaman Maluach (2025)**
*draft rights acquired on draft night ** draft rights re-acquired in the Kevin Durant trade
We kick off our final draft position in our final article of the series with Paul Pierce, whom the Boston Celtics drafted 10th overall in 1998 out of Kansas.
There are some good names on the honorable mention list, and three of them are former Phoenix Suns. Joe Johnson, Paul Westphal, and Paul Silas were all drafted 10th overall. But none of them reached the peak that Paul Pierce, a.k.a. The Truth, did during his 19 years in the NBA. That’s right. Nineteen years.
It all began in Boston, where he helped change the fortunes of a franchise that had been largely wandering since the Larry Bird era. By his fourth season in the NBA, he had played all 82 games, earned an All-Star selection, and made Third Team All-NBA while averaging 26.1 points and 6.9 rebounds per game.
It was the first of 10 All-Star selections and four All-NBA honors. Three of those were Third Team selections, with the exception being a Second Team nod in 2008-09.
Pierce put up productive numbers throughout the front half of his career, but it wasn’t until Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett arrived that he reached the pinnacle. In 2008, he led the Celtics to an NBA championship and was named NBA Finals MVP, averaging 21.8 points, 6.3 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.2 steals in a six-game Finals victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.
That was the peak. As his career progressed, his production gradually declined. At age 36, he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets. He later spent time with the Washington Wizards and Los Angeles Clippers before retiring in 2017.
When you look at the totality of his career, however, it was unbelievably impressive and productive. That’s why Paul Pierce gets the nod as the best player ever drafted 10th overall.
9. Dirk Nowitzki (1998)
German basketball player Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks power forward, evades the challenge from German-American basketball player Detlef Schrempf, SuperSonics forward, during the NBA match between the Seattle SuperSonics and the Dallas Mavericks at the KeyArena in Seattle, Washington, 5th February 1999. The SuperSonics won the game 92-86. (Photo by Andreas Rentz/Bongarts/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Honorable Mentions:
Tracy McGrady (1997)
Amar’e Stoudmire (2002)
Shawn Marion (1999)
Jojo White (1969)
Andre Iguodala (2004)
Suns Taken at 9:
Shawn Marion (1999)
Amar’e Stoudmire (2002)
I love Tracy McGrady. Amar’e Stoudemire and Shawn Marion will forever be among my favorite players I’ve ever watched play for the Phoenix Suns. But the honor of the best player ever drafted ninth overall goes to Dirk Nowitzki, and I doubt I’ll get much argument in the comments about it.
Dirk is another player who has longevity on his side, playing 21 years in the NBA, all of them with the Dallas Mavericks. Ironically, he was drafted in 1998, one spot ahead of Paul Pierce, by the Milwaukee Bucks. But Milwaukee opted to trade him, along with Pat Garrity, to the Dallas Mavericks for Robert Traylor. From there, a Hall of Fame career was born.
From a Suns fan’s perspective, we know Nowitzki well. His mid-range dagger was automatic. It was revolutionary. We had never really seen a 7-footer operate the way he did, stretching defenses and creating offense from all over the floor. He also helped legitimize international players in a way few others had before him. You can make a strong argument that Dirk’s success helped usher in the European wave that has become such a significant part of today’s NBA.
So how did he end up in the Hall of Fame in 2023? The résumé speaks for itself. Dirk was a 14-time All-Star, a 12-time All-NBA selection, the 2007 MVP, and an NBA champion in 2011.
And while I’ll always have some disdain for those Dallas teams, especially after what Jerry Stackhouse did to Joe Johnson’s orbital bone, I respected the hell out of Dirk. Particularly in 2011. That Miami Heat team was a superteam. They were talented, confident, and at times an incredibly cocky group. When they started mocking Dirk for being sick during the Finals, it rubbed a lot of people the wrong way.
Dirk responded the best way possible. He averaged 26.0 points and 9.7 rebounds in the six-game series, shooting 42%, 37%, and 98% from the field, three-point range, and free throw line, respectively. More importantly, he completely shut them up.
That championship cemented his legacy. It also earned my respect.
8. Willis Reed (1964)
BALTIMORE, MD – CIRCA 1970's: Willis Reed #19 of the New York Knicks is guarded closely by Wes Unseld #41 of the Washington Bullets during a early circa 1970's NBA basketball game at the Baltimore Civic Center in Baltimore, Maryland. Reed played for the Knicks from 1964-74. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Honorable Mentions:
Robert Parrish (1976)
Sam Jones (1957)
Tom Chambers (1981)
Ron Harper (1986)
Vin Baker (1993)
Jack Sikma (1977)
Suns Taken at 8:
Gary Gregor (1968)
Mike Bantom (1973)
Marquese Chriss (2016)
The eighth overall draft position has produced some unbelievably valuable players over the years, along with plenty of key contributors to championship teams. And one bonehead in Marquese Chriss. While there are some worthy candidates here, I think the honor has to go to Willis Reed, whom the New York Knicks selected in the 1964 NBA Draft out of Grambling State.
Reed was the big man who helped lead the Knicks to two NBA championships, something the franchise wouldn’t accomplish again until this season. He made an immediate impact, winning Rookie of the Year in 1965 while also earning his first All-Star selection.
A few years later, he entered the peak of his career. Beginning in 1968, Reed put together a three-year stretch in which he finished no lower than second in MVP voting. In 1970, he finally won the award. That same season, he was First Team All-NBA and First Team All-Defense. More importantly, he was named NBA Finals MVP, an honor he would earn again in 1973.
The résumé is overwhelming. Reed was a seven-time All-Star, a two-time NBA champion, a five-time All-NBA selection, a two-time Finals MVP, a league MVP, a member of the NBA 75th Anniversary Team, and a Hall of Famer. It’s hard for anyone drafted eighth overall to compete with that.
What’s remarkable is that he accomplished all of this in only 10 NBA seasons. Injuries ultimately took their toll on Reed, and nowhere was that more evident than during the 1970 NBA Finals. After suffering a torn quadriceps in Game 5, he missed Game 6 and appeared unlikely to play in the decisive Game 7 against the Los Angeles Lakers. Then came one of the most iconic moments in NBA history.
Reed emerged from the tunnel and took the floor.
He only scored four points, hitting the first two baskets of the game, but the emotional lift he provided swung the momentum firmly in New York’s favor. The Knicks went on to win the championship, and Reed was named Finals MVP. To this day, it’s remembered simply as “The Willis Reed Game.”
That’s the kind of legacy that makes this decision easy.
7. Stephen Curry (2009)
OAKLAND, CA – DECEMBER 18: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors waits for play to resume in a game against the Washington Wizards on December 18, 2009 at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Honorable Mentions:
John Havelicek (1962)
Chris Mullin (1985)
Bernard King (1977)
Kevin Johnson (1987)
Richard Hamilton (1999)
Suns Taken at 7:
Tim Perry (1988)
Luol Deng (2004)*
*draft rights traded to the Bulls on draft day
Seventh overall is a tough one because you have John Havlicek sitting there. Hondo was a 13-time All-Star, an eight-time NBA champion, and an 11-time All-NBA selection. Perhaps recency bias plays into this particular decision because I never had the pleasure of watching him play. I should also note that this is one of those draft slots with some controversy attached to it. Basketball Reference has Havlicek drafted ninth overall in the 1962 NBA Draft, while NBA dot com and Wikipedia have him seventh overall. So even with a little controversy involved, I’m giving this one to Stephen Curry. The greatest shooter of all time.
While Curry doesn’t have the same career accolades as Havlicek, what he has accomplished is incredibly impressive when you consider the era in which he’s played. When Havlicek entered the league, there were only nine teams in the NBA. Curry has spent his entire career competing in a 30-team league. And what a career it has been.
The Baby Faced Assassin revolutionized basketball. He changed the geometry of the court and completely altered how the game is played. He owns the NBA record for most three pointers made in a career and most three pointers made per game for a career. He also holds the record for most three-point attempts in NBA history with 10,073. The efficiency is what makes it ridiculous. Curry is a career 42.2% three point shooter while taking a volume of shots no player before him would have even considered attempting.
Along the way, he’s won four championships, earned 12 All-Star selections, captured two scoring titles, led the league in steals in 2016, and won two MVP awards. And his career isn’t over. At 37 years old, he’s still one of the most dangerous offensive players in basketball. He may not be quite the same player he was during his unanimous MVP season, but he’s still capable of changing a game the moment he crosses half-court.
That’s what separates him. The numbers are incredible. The championships matter. The MVPs matter. But his impact on the sport is what ultimately puts him over the top. Stephen Curry didn’t simply dominate an era. He changed it.
6. Larry Bird (1978)
ATLANTA – JANUARY 1: Larry Bird #33 of the Boston Celtics shoots a free throw during the NBA game against the Atlanta Hawks on January 1, 1980 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Credit: Scott Cunningham/NBAE/Getty Images | NBAE via Getty Images
Honorable Mentions:
Lenny Wilkens (1960)
Damian Lillard (2012)
Adrian Dantley (1976)
Shane Battier (2001)
Brandon Roy (2006)
Suns Taken at 6:
William Bedford (1986)
Jarrett Culver (2019)*
*traded on draft day for Dario Saric and rights to Cameron Johnson
Again, you have some great names taken sixth overall in NBA history, but the fact that Larry Bird went sixth is a travesty. Or, if you’re a Boston Celtics fan, it’s a miracle.
Bird was selected sixth overall in the 1978 NBA Draft because he was an underclassman who chose to return to Indiana State for his senior season. Due to the draft rules at the time, many teams were unwilling to spend a premium pick on a player they couldn’t sign for a full year. The Celtics took the gamble and retained his exclusive rights.
Because of that, Boston essentially burned a top pick on a player who wouldn’t suit up for them for an entire season. That season, they went 29-53. When the 1979-80 season arrived, Larry Bird arrived with it.
From there, he put together one of the greatest 13-year careers you’ll ever find. He won Rookie of the Year in 1980, and one season later, helped lead Boston to its first championship of the decade. Bird wasn’t the Finals MVP in 1981 — that honor went to Cedric Maxwell — but it was the first title the Celtics had won since beating the Suns in the 1976 NBA Finals.
Larry Bird was a player who defied every stereotype. He was a goofy-looking kid from French Lick, Indiana, who possessed a devastating jumper, an innate ability to score, and a basketball IQ that became the tip of the spear for multiple Celtics championship teams. More than anything, he simply cared more than everybody else. When people talk about the competitive fire of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, Larry Bird belongs in that conversation, too.
After everything was said and done, he finished with three NBA championships and three consecutive MVP awards, winning them in 1984, 1985, and 1986. He was a 10-time All-NBA selection, a 12-time All-Star, a three-time All-Defensive Team member, and a two-time Finals MVP.
Larry Legend. The Hick from French Lick. The Great White Hope. Whatever nickname you prefer, Bird was one of the defining players in NBA history. Alongside Magic Johnson, he helped push the NBA into the mainstream consciousness and laid the foundation for what the league would eventually become.
5. Charles Barkley (1984)
HOUSTON – 1984: Charles Barkley #34 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on during a game against the Houston Rockets circa 1984 at the Summitt in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1984 NBAE (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Honorable Mentions:
Kevin Garnett (1995)
Dwayne Wade (2003)
Scottie Pippen (1987)
Ray Allen (1996)
Walt Frazier (1967)
Sidney Moncrief (1979)
Vince Carter (1998)
Suns Taken at 5:
Walter Davis (1977)
Alex Len (2013)
If you want to talk about one of the hardest draft slots to determine the best player from, look no further than fifth overall. Some of the names here are spectacular. From Scottie Pippen and Ray Allen to Walt Frazier and Sidney Moncrief, this is a who’s who of elite NBA talent.
But then there’s the top tier. This is one I’ve been going back and forth on for days. Is it Dwyane Wade, Kevin Garnett, or Charles Barkley? All three have a legitimate case.
When you look at Wade, he was the best player on a team that won a championship and the second-best player on two more championship teams. That’s three rings and a Finals MVP. He was a 13-time All-Star and arguably had the longest stretch of sustained success among the group.
Then there’s Kevin Garnett. He played the most games of the trio, has the highest value over replacement, won a championship, won an MVP, won a Defensive Player of the Year award, and made 15 All-Star teams. In fact, Garnett occupied this spot on my list for days.
But then there’s Charles Barkley. He never won a championship, but he’s also the only one of these three who had to run headfirst into Michael Jordan in order to try and win one. And he did a pretty damn good job getting there. You could argue that Barkley had the highest peak of the three. You could also argue he had the most sustained individual excellence.
For his career, he averaged 22.1 points and 11.7 rebounds per game. From 1986 through 1996, he averaged 24.2 points per game. He led the league in offensive rebounds three times and total rebounds once. He also led the NBA in two-point field goal percentage for five consecutive seasons in Philadelphia, doing so in an era before teams were stretching the floor with three-pointers.
I don’t think enough people remember how dominant Barkley was in Philadelphia. Part of that is because he was competing for attention against Larry Bird and Michael Jordan. Those guys understandably consumed much of the spotlight. Meanwhile, Barkley kept stacking All-Star appearances and All-NBA selections year after year, eventually culminating with his MVP season in 1993.
And that’s where I’m going to let a little bias creep in. This is close. Really close. You can make a compelling argument for all three players, and ultimately, it comes down to how you define the word “best.” There isn’t a wrong answer.
Barkley finished his career as an 11-time All-Star, an 11-time All-NBA selection, and the 1993 MVP, solidifying his place in the Hall of Fame. Pound for pound, there might not have been a better rebounder in NBA history outside of Dennis Rodman. What made Barkley different was that rebounding was only part of his game. He could score. He could shoot. He could post up. He could overpower you with his strength and will.
At only 6’6″, he routinely dominated players much bigger than him. He grabbed rebounds in traffic, created extra possessions, and turned them into points on the other end. Night after night, he imposed his will on games. He combined the mentality and physicality of a power forward with the offensive skill set of a much more versatile player. He wasn’t simply cleaning the glass. He was carrying offenses, creating mismatches, and producing at an elite level for more than a decade.
That’s why, even without the championship, Charles Barkley remains one of the greatest players the game has ever seen.
Dwyane Wade didn’t change Miami. Kevin Garnett didn’t change Minnesota. Charles Barkley changed Phoenix. Barkley arrived and immediately transformed the franchise, the city, and the way people viewed Suns basketball. He was a cultural icon. He was a superstar in every sense of the word.
A role model? Well, he’d be the first person to tell you he wasn’t. But he was Charles Barkley. And that’s enough for me.
4. Chris Paul (2005)
HOUSTON – FEBRUARY 17: Chris Paul #3 of the New Orleans Hornets dribbles the ball up court during the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge on February 17, 2006 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER:User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2006 NBAE (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Honorable Mentions:
Russell Westbrook (2008)
Dikembe Mutombo (1991)
Chris Bosh (2003)
Dave Cowens (1970)
Dolph Schayes (1948)
Suns Taken at 4:
Corky Calhoun (1972)
John Shumate (1974)
Alvan Adams (1975)
Drgan Bender (2016)
Josh Jackson (2017)
Third overall gives us another quality list of players, as it should. What’s interesting about the third overall pick is that there are plenty of amazing players, but not many who served as the alpha on multiple championship teams. You could argue that Dave Cowens was, considering he won two championships with the Celtics in the 1970s and captured the 1973 MVP award.
But I’m giving this one to Chris Paul. Perhaps that’s recency bias again. Perhaps it’s because I had the opportunity to watch him closely for three seasons in Phoenix. Either way, Chris Paul gets the nod.
He’s one of the last members of a dying breed. You don’t find many cerebral, pass-first point guards left in today’s NBA, and that’s unfortunate. Go back and watch Chris Paul in his prime. Outside of the antics that drove opposing fans crazy, and drove Suns fans crazy until he finally arrived in Phoenix, he played a beautiful game.
At 6 feet tall, he impacted both ends of the floor. He knew how to run an offense. He knew how to control tempo. He knew how to defend opposing point guards to the point of irritation. Six times during his 21-year career, he led the NBA in steals, and five times he led the league in assists.
The production never stopped. The 2006 Rookie of the Year was also a career 37% shooter from beyond the arc, making him a threat whether he was creating for teammates or looking for his own shot. He spent time with several franchises throughout his career, although his longest stint came with the Clippers, where he played seven seasons. But those three years in Phoenix were special. Not only for the franchise, but for Chris Paul as well.
Despite all of his accomplishments, all of his statistics, and all of his awards, Phoenix was the only place he reached the NBA Finals. That 2021 run remains one of the defining moments of his career. When everything was said and done, Paul finished with 11 All-NBA selections, nine All-Defensive Team honors, and 12 All-Star appearances.
The Point God. A player I absolutely could not stand until he arrived in Phoenix. Funny how that happens when they start playing for your team.
Side note: The Suns sure have drafted plenty at third overall, and only one time did they get it right.
3. Michael Jordan (1984)
LANDOVER, MD – CIRCA 1985: Michael Jordan #23 of the Chicago Bulls goes in for a layup against the Washington Bullets during an NBA basketball game circa 1985 at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland. Jordan played for the Bulls from 1984-93 and 1995 – 98. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Michael Jordan | Getty Images
Honorable Mentions:
Wilt Chamberlain (1959)
Luka Doncic (2018)
Kevin McHale (1980)
Pete Maravich (1970)
James Harden (2009)
Bob Cousy (1950)
Grant Hill (1994)
Suns Taken at 3:
Phoenix has never drafted from this position
There are certainly some tough discussions to be had as we navigate this top 10. Third overall is not one of them. Because drafted at this slot is the greatest player to ever play the game of basketball.
I know it’s a debate people have over and over again. For me, it’s not even close. You can argue that LeBron James has had the greatest career ever. That’s a fair argument. But Michael Jordan is the greatest player who has ever played the game.
One way I always make this argument is by asking a simple question: Would you consider a player with two championships, two Finals MVPs, three All-Defensive Team selections, one league MVP, and one Defensive Player of the Year award to be a Hall of Famer? Of course you would. That’s the gap between Michael Jordan and LeBron James when it comes to accolades.
I’ve had the benefit of watching both play. Yes, Jordan is tied to my youth, and there’s undoubtedly some nostalgia attached to what he accomplished. But even when I try to remove that from the equation, there’s simply nobody like him. When you combine athleticism, competitiveness, basketball IQ, the desire to win, and the ability to perform in the biggest moments, nobody checks every box the way Jordan did. Nobody.
There are some damn good players drafted second overall. Hall of Famers. MVPs. Champions. It doesn’t matter. I will be a Michael Jordan defender forever. Part of that is the emotional connection. When I was six years old in 1988, my dad told me to watch this guy because he had never seen anything like him. So I watched. Intently. Obsessively.
A John Voita original
I grew up idolizing Michael Jordan. I read the books. I got my left ear pierced because he had one. I shaved my head when the Bulls won championships during the summer, which is something I regret now because, well, I’m bald. Even as I sit here typing these words, there’s a painting I made of Michael Jordan hanging above me. That’s how much of an impact he had on me. I’ll always be a Suns fan. But I’ll always be a Jordan fan too.
When you look at his career accolades, they’re staggering.
Michael Jordan finished his career as a 14-time All-Star, a 10-time scoring champion, a three-time steals champion, an 11-time All-NBA selection, a nine-time All-Defensive Team selection, a five-time MVP (how did he only win five?!), a six-time Finals MVP, a six-time NBA champion, and the 1985 Rookie of the Year. And he did it all while wearing shoes that people are still lining up to buy decades later. That’s how iconic he was.
Jordan wasn’t simply a basketball player. He was a cultural phenomenon. His impact extended far beyond the court. He transcended the sport in a way few athletes ever have, becoming recognizable to people who never watched a single NBA game. But the reason all of that happened was because of what he did on the court.
He dominated. He won. He delivered in every big moment. And he made it look cool while doing it. For an entire generation, Michael Jordan wasn’t simply the best basketball player in the world. He was who you wanted to be.
Like Mike. If I could be like Mike.
2. Bill Russell (1956)
NEW YORK, NY – CIRCA 1960's: Bill Russell #6 of the Boston Celtics defends the ball against the New York Knicks during a circa 1960's NBA basketball game. Russell played for the Celtics from 1956 – 69. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Honorable Mentions:
Jerry West (1960)
Kevin Durant (2007)
Isiah Thomas (1981)
Jason Kidd (1994)
Bob Pettit (1954)
Suns Taken at 2:
Neal Walk (1969)
Armen Gilliam (1987)
In the same breath, the best player ever drafted second overall is somebody who won and changed the game.
He played long before my time, and by today’s standards, he wasn’t an overwhelming offensive player. But he changed basketball with the way he defended, controlled the paint, and rebounded the ball. And if your argument for the greatest player ever begins and ends with championships, then Bill Russell is your guy.
Drafted second overall in 1956 out of the University of San Francisco, Russell was actually selected by the St. Louis Hawks. He was then traded to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Ed Macauley and Cliff Hagan. What’s interesting is how it all came together.
The Rochester Royals held the first overall pick, but it was widely reported that Celtics owner Walter Brown, who was also a part-owner of the Ice Capades show, convinced the Royals to pass on Russell. In exchange, Brown guaranteed a series of Ice Capades performances in Rochester. Boston then capitalized on the circumstances and orchestrated the trade with St. Louis.
To be fair, the Hawks did pretty well for themselves. Macauley and Hagan helped them win a championship two years later. But the Celtics got Bill Russell. And the winning began.
Russell averaged only 15.1 points per game during his 13-year career, but he also averaged 22.5 rebounds. His best season came in 1963-64 when he averaged 24.7 rebounds per game. He simply owned the paint for an entire generation of basketball. His career playoff average of 24.9 rebounds per game remains an NBA record.
As a result, in 13 seasons, Bill Russell won 11 NBA championships. Eleven! What’s also interesting is that the NBA Finals MVP award didn’t exist until 1969, the final season of Russell’s career and the year he won his 11th championship. Yet he didn’t win the award. Instead, it went to Jerry West, marking the only time in league history that the Finals MVP was awarded to a player on the losing team.
When everything was said and done, Russell’s résumé was overwhelming. He was a 12-time All-Star, a four-time rebounding champion, a five-time MVP, a First Team All-Defense selection in 1969, which happened to be the first year the award existed, and an 11-time NBA champion. And to show just how much he meant to the sport, the NBA retired his No. 6 league-wide in 2022. Nobody else can say that.
1. LeBron James (2003)
SACRAMENTO, CA – OCTOBER 29: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers goes for a dunk against the Sacramento Kings during the NBA game at the Arco Arena on October 29, 2003 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory copyright notice: Copyright NBAE 2003 (Photo by Rocky Widner/ NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Honorable Mentions:
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1969)
Magic Johnson (1979)
Hakeem Olajuwon (1984)
Tim Duncan (1997)
Shaquille O’Neal (1992)
Suns Taken at 1:
Deandre Ayton (2018)
I’ll start by acknowledging how tough it was to determine the best player ever drafted first overall in NBA history. Why? Because collectively, the No. 1 pick has produced 22 MVP awards, 50 NBA championships, roughly 250 All-Star selections, around 75 All-Defensive Team honors, and 19 Finals MVP awards.
There have certainly been some busts at the top of the draft (re: the only time the Suns ever drafted first overall), but there have also been some truly incredible players. The two that rose to the top for me, and the two that made this decision difficult, were Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and LeBron James.
Kareem changed the game in much the same way Bill Russell did, while also being an elite offensive player. His skyhook remains one of the most unstoppable shots basketball has ever seen, and I’m still not sure why more players haven’t tried to replicate it. He rode that shot to six championships, six MVP awards, and 15 All-NBA selections.
But if I want this list to be taken seriously, I think I have to give this one to LeBron James. Because while he didn’t change the game in quite the same way Kareem did, I believe he has had the greatest career from start to finish of any player in NBA history, especially when considering the weight of expectations.
The longevity alone is unbelievable. The fact that he’s still performing at such a high level this deep into his career is something we’ve never seen before. It’s always difficult to compare players across eras. We’ll never truly know how players from the early days of the NBA would have fared with today’s technology, training methods, nutrition, medical resources, and rules.
What we do know is that LeBron took advantage of everything the modern NBA had to offer and turned it into the greatest career we’ve ever seen. Not the most winning career.
Winning is part of the equation, a big part of it, but it’s only part of it. LeBron has won plenty while also maintaining a level of consistency that no player has ever matched. No player has appeared in more NBA games. No player has played more minutes. No player has attempted more field goals. No player has scored more points. And yes, nobody has turned the ball over more than LeBron James either. That’s what happens when you have the ball in your hands for more than two decades.
In an era where the league has expanded and the talent pool has become deeper than ever, LeBron has remained relevant. For his career, which now spans 23 seasons, he’s averaged 26.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, 7.4 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. The accolades are ridiculous. He’s a 22-time All-Star, a four-time NBA champion, a 21-time All-NBA selection, a six-time All-Defensive Team member, a four-time MVP, and a four-time Finals MVP.
It’s hard to even comprehend those numbers when you stop and think about them.
What’s interesting is that he’s only led the league in scoring once, doing so in 2008 when he averaged 30.0 points per game. Yet in 2020, at age 35, he led the NBA in assists at 10.2 per game. That’s why I’ve never really viewed him as another Michael Jordan. To me, LeBron has always felt like a more physical version of Magic Johnson. And that’s another player who was drafted first overall.
In fact, when you look through the list of great No. 1 picks, you’ll see plenty of Lakers legends. Interestingly enough, only Magic was actually drafted by the Lakers. But that’s a story for another day.
For now, I tip my hat to The King. The greatest player ever drafted first overall in NBA history.
So that’s it. Every draft position and the best player drafted at each slot. 27,016 words spent answering a question I’ve always had, and now I have the data to back it up. Expect to see this article referenced for years to come as the Suns navigate future drafts, even if they’re picking near the back of the board for the foreseeable future.
But alas, the work is done. After six articles, one thing became abundantly clear. Greatness can be found anywhere in the draft. From Nikola Jokic at 41 to LeBron James at 1, the journey matters every bit as much as the destination. Some picks changed franchises. Some changed the sport itself.
And while we could debate the order endlessly, that’s part of the fun. The draft is hope, history, and hindsight all rolled into one. It’s potential versus production. Projection versus reality. Every selection carries a different story, and that’s what makes looking back through draft history so fascinating.
Because every year, teams walk to the podium believing they’ve found the next great player. Sometimes they’re right. Most of the time, they’re not. But that’s why we keep coming back to the draft year after year. And it all kicks off tomorrow night.
For posterity’s sake, here is the list in its final form:
The 2026 NBA Draft is on the horizon, bringing one of the most significant dates on the league’s calendar.
Childhood dreams of making it to the NBA will be achieved.
Teams will turn draft assets into tangible players who they hope will contribute to winning in the short- and long-term future.
St. John’s Zuby Ejiofor is on the LA Lakers’ radar ahead of the 2026 NBA Draft. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
And in the background, teams will continue to explore the options that’ll help them achieve their goals for 2026–27.
For the Lakers, who have a first-round pick in the draft (No. 25), the opportunity the draft presents as it pertains to roster building can’t be whiffed on.
In their pursuit of assembling a roster that’ll be competitive against the 2026 Western Conference champion Spurs and 2025 NBA champion Thunder, the Lakers have two main options for their first-round pick: Trade it for a player who’s ready to compete for a title now alongside Luka Dončić or select a prospect whom they plan to develop and hope will help now and in the future.
If the Lakers choose the latter path, there isn’t a shortage of options of prospects who they should consider drafting.
Toward the top of that list should be St. John’s big man Zuby Ejiofor, whose hustle, defensive versatility and energetic style of play would be a welcome addition to the Lakers’ front court.
Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka is keeping his eye on St. John’s star Ejiofor. Getty Images
Despite being an undersized big man, Ejiofor was an impactful defender throughout college because of his wingspan, instincts, strength and communication.
Ejiofor can switch onto perimeter ball handlers and contain them in isolations. And even if they get a step by him, he has the length and quickness to recover to either block or contest the shot.
And four years of college basketball helped showcase that he’s regularly in the right position defensively.
Ejiofor’s time in college allowed him to make significant strides as a passer/playmaker — which will be his strongest offensive skills in the NBA besides his reliable screening.
But his best attribute is how hard he plays — which has proven to be a skill.
It was evident in the 3.3 offensive rebounds he averaged in 2025–26 and the 4.4 offensive rebounds he averaged as a junior.
It was clear in the all-around growth he made as a player from his freshman year at Kansas to leading St. John’s to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances.
A star-driven team like the Lakers could use more players like Ejiofor who give it their all on every possession, which raises the collective hustle and energy of the team.
Areas of improvement?
Ejiofor being undersized hurts him when it comes to scoring and finishing at the rim against bigger and longer players.
And if his 3-point shot isn’t going to be consistent (30.5% in 2025–26; 27.7% in college), then it’s going to be difficult for him to be viewed as an offensive threat outside of hustle plays because he’s limited in other areas since he isn’t an offensive creator.
If the shot doesn’t develop, Ejiofor’s ceiling likely would be as a change-of-pace energetic big man.
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The Warriors possess the No. 11 pick in this month’s NBA draft.
Who they pick with their highest selection since 2021 could hold the cards to not only the final years of Steph Curry’s career but also the future direction of the franchise.
This week, we are profiling five possible prospects GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. could target.
Former Michigan forward Morez Johnson Jr. is on the Warriors’ NBA draft radar. Getty Images
Concluding with Part 5:
Morez Johnson Jr.
Age: 20
Position: Forward
Height/weight: 6-foot-9 / 250 pounds
School: Michigan
Why he’s a fit
The Warriors were so short on frontcourt depth at the end of last season that they signed a center to their G League team that ended the regular season playing real NBA minutes.
Charles Bassey and Golden State’s three other big men — Al Horford, Kristaps Porzingis and Quinten Post — all have uncertain futures. Even if some combination of them returns, a player whose game and body are as developed as Johnson’s will find a way to contribute.
Johnson teamed up with Yaxel Lendeborg, another possible Warriors target, and 7-3 center Aday Mara, who could also go in the lottery, to form one of the most physically formidable front courts in the country while leading Michigan to a national championship.
Johnson’s switchability and physicality on defense may remind you of another player from around those parts. He also has the same kind of length that has helped Draymond Green — a Michigan State man — be an elite defender, with a wingspan measuring 7-3 ½.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr might be in need of some frontcourt depth, and Johnson would fit the bill. AP Photo/Jeff Chiu
Why he’ll last until No. 11
Johnson is the prototypical high-floor, low-ceiling player.
He doesn’t have a 3-point shot and hasn’t tried to incorporate one. He has the physicality to get to the rim and finish through contact but isn’t considered to have many moves in his bag.
That said, Johnson knows his skill set and doesn’t waste shots, setting an Illinois record for field-goal percentage as a freshman and shooting 62.7% mostly from close range at Michigan, where he averaged 13.1 points and 7.3 rebounds while starting all 40 games.
That doesn’t mean he is always a smart decision-maker on offense: He committed more turnovers (53) than he dished out assists (48). Foul trouble has also been a problem, though his 3.7 per 40 minutes with Michigan was an improvement over his 5.6 per 40 as a freshman.
Just as he makes up his lack of height with brute force, Johnson’s defensive prowess helps overshadow his offensive shortcomings, though he’ll have to work on avoiding the whistle.
NBA comp: Isaiah Stewart
Johnson’s pure physicality means he won’t be overwhelmed by the NBA. He lacks the upside of other lottery talent but could be of immediate help for the Warriors’ defensive scheme.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - JANUARY 03: Aaron Wiggins #21 of the Oklahoma City Thunder reacts after a made basket during the second half against the New York Knicks at Paycom Center on January 3, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joshua Gateley/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Hawks are finalizing a trade for Aaron Wiggins, sending Oklahoma City Atlanta’s 2030 second-round pick and the less favorable of the Hawks’ and Lakers’ 2032 second-rounders. The agreement was reported late on June 21, 2026, hours after Atlanta retained CJ McCollum.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are finalizing a trade to send guard Aaron Wiggins to the Atlanta Hawks for two second-round picks (Atlanta's in 2030 and the least favorable of Hawks/Lakers in 2032), sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/ypffJ3jMOk
Wiggins is a career 38% three-point shooter who can defend wings, attack a closeout and function without dominating the ball. He is also owed only a little more than $17 million across the next two guaranteed seasons, with a team option for 2028-29.
Aaron Wiggins is a product of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s strong drafting and player development system. A versatile wing with athleticism, handles, and shooting ability, the 3-and-D type has shot 38% from three in his career but has been limited to a bench role, topping out at 24.2 minutes per game due to the Thunder’s deep and talented roster.
Before the 2024-25 season, he signed a five-year, $45 million extension that declines over time with a team option for 2028-29; the Hawks will owe him slightly more than $17 million over the next two guaranteed seasons and may give him an opportunity for a larger role. We’ll always remember the January 3, 2025 game, when Wiggins scored a season-high 19 points (including 15 in the fourth quarter on perfect 5-of-5 shooting) to beat the Knicks, 117-107. We’re like pessimistic elephants, never forgettin’ the losses. . . .
Wiggins will not transform Atlanta into an Eastern Conference favorite by himself. He does give the Hawks another useful defender and shooter to deploy against Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, and OG Anunoby. And because Atlanta did not surrender either numbers 8 or 23 in this week’s draft, they can still draft a major prospect, trade a first-rounder, or pursue another established player. Crafty birds.
Over the weekend, McCollum re-signed with the team on a one-year, $21 million contract, marking the first major free agency news of the offseason. The deal, reported by Shams Charania, includes a 7.5% trade kicker and leverages McCollum’s full bird rights acquired at the trade deadline, effectively providing an implied no-trade clause.
The 35-year-old veteran played a key role in the Hawks’ strong late-season surge, averaging 18.9 points per game on 56% true shooting, and delivered clutch postseason performances, making him a valuable short-term veteran presence as the team eyes the future with its upcoming draft pick.
Atlanta finished in sixth place last season. In the first round of the 2026 playoffs, they pushed the Knicks to 2-1 before New York got right and rode a 15-1 pony to the NBA championship (have you heard?). The Hawks’ lack of depth was exposed and exploited by our heroes. The acquisition of Wiggins is thus a corrective step.
So Atlanta patched a hole with Wiggins (a solid but unproven 3-and-D guy who was stuck in OKC’s loaded roster) for basically peanuts, and kept McCollum as their veteran microwave scorer on a short deal. Atlanta must have other deals in their sights if they want to make a real leap, though. If they’ve tired of the first pick in the 2024 draft, Zaccharie Risacher (who averaged 7.7 MPG and 3 PPG in the playoffs), they could bundle the Frenchman and the aforementioned picks in an offer for a star. Miami and Boston seem to be the frontrunners in the race for Giannis, but could Atlanta be positioning itself as a dark horse?
Quietly, Atlanta is building a more complete roster. Are you concerned? Air it out below.
02 September 2025, Rhineland-Palatinate, Landau in der Pfalz: Cheetah girl Assama is out and about in the enclosure. The cheetah girl Assama was born as an only child at Landau Zoo at the beginning of July. The first few weeks were a rollercoaster of emotions with some health problems, but now Assama's overall good development allows her to make her first appearance in front of the press. Photo: Andreas Arnold/dpa (Photo by Andreas Arnold/picture alliance via Getty Images)
Just when you think there will be nothing to write about or stories to cover, all of a sudden, you wake up, read 30-something articles, and file a 1,000-word post filled with notes. Such is life in this wonderful place.
Enjoy a relatively slow Monday; we’ll be busy again on Tuesday with the NBA Draft going down at Barclays.
Not that it’s the most Knicks-centric thing, but it looks like the Celtics are it. According to Marc Stein, reporting after posting a humongous file on his Substack, Boston “emerged from the weekend with a real shot to win this race with a Jaylen Brown-centric offer.” Sounds like Milwaukee won’t even consider a third team to facilitate the deal or sweeten it, so stay alert for a Shams bomb dropping any time now.
We have already discussed how the potential landing of Giannis in Boston could affect the Knicks next season and beyond, and truth be told, I have between none and zero worries. Everything points toward Boston sending Jaylen Brown the other way, which is a Knicks win already. On top of that, the C’s are bringing back legitimately damaged goods in Adetokunbo, who has appeared in 36 (last year), 67, 73, 63, 67, 61, and 63 regular-season games in the past seven seasons. Want more? If Stein’s report is to be believed, then the Celtics are sending more than JB the other way, which makes sense considering the reports about the Bucks wanting to bake Bobby Portis into any Giannis deal, and the subsequent salary-matching that would entail.
Will the Celtics be better with a Giannis-Tatum pairing than keeping their two-man core together, given their track record and Tatum’s supposedly healthier body going forward? Our friends from CelticsBlog are calling it an “agonizing decision” and comparing it to the good old ‘07 trade for Kevin Garnett, which was the closest to a one-year victory for the C’s with KG’s prime virtually expiring right after they hung the ‘08 banner. Crippling an Eastern Conference rival, and the Celtics of all franchises? Make it happen, Bradley!
The earlier report from Marc Stein pointed to the opposite scenario, with the Heat ahead in the Giannis race.
“League sources say that the Heat remain in full-speed pursuit of Antetokounmpo but also indicate that the Boston Celtics have not yet abandoned hope.”
Renowned NBA analyst and deal-breaker Chad Ochocinco with the strong sauce, emphasis mine.
“As y’all know I’ve said it multiple times over the months. The sources that I do have, they know what they’re talking about. Which is why I’ve came on here and say things that I’ve said. All the other stuff, with Boston, and him going anywhere, none of that is going to happen. That’s just created dialogue to keep people guessing on where he might go.”
The Pistons want Kyrie Irving and Celtics-linked Rudy Gobert is saying he’s still “very far from thinking” about retiring. Stars are definitely aligning for the Knicks.
New York Jets wide receiver Isaiah Williams’s plans to score more touchdowns next season? Training with Olympic sprinters, reports ESPN’s Rich Cimini. After all of the struggles, this must be our year!
I sent this ESPN article to my Kindle yesterday without knowing the author. The more I kept reading, the more I suspected who was behind the pen. Always read former P&T scribe Jayson Buford, people.
Touching piece from yet another former P&T man (!!!) in Abe Bame and his tale about the Knicks parade, his son, sports in childhood, parenting, family moments, and our sickening yet charming world.
The ninth season of the BIG 3 tipped off over the weekend…
Michael Beasley and Dwight Howard just got ejected on the first day of The Big 3 season
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) June 20, 2026
…and of course, all of Dwight Howard, Michael Beasley, and Lance Stephenson got the fireworks going. I have been advocating for and willing to lead a BIG 3 blog here at SBN for more than five years. We’ll get there, we’ll get there. It’s a one-game suspension for Beasley and Lance, while Dwight somehow escaped punishment. The game was forfeited by Miami as they ran out of players. (lol)
If you have $3 million to spare, OG’s tip-in ball from Game 4 will soon be up for the craziest bidder. Meanwhile, I’m so frugal that I’m having an internal debate about whether or not I should buy any $20-buck Knicks paraphernalia following the championship.
Isaiah Thomas, not Isiah Thomas as shocking as that after your read the next quote, believes all the Spurs lacked to beat the Knicks in the Finals was… Chris Paul.
“I believe if they had Chris Paul on this roster, they would’ve won the finals. His experience and who he, a Hall of Fame career, is would’ve helped De’Aaron Fox, (Stephon) Castle, (Dylan) Harper.”
Isiah Thomas believed all the Knicks lacked to win 35 games were Stephon Marbury and Steve Francis. Close!
If you want a tough player, get yourself a Balkan. S/o Brandon Mullen from our sister site Blazer’s Edge for sharing Deni Avdija’s interview, in which he shared a ridiculous quote about the car crash he suffered last January. He was hooping 24 hours after suffering it.
“I saw my life flashing before my eyes. Airbags deployed, the car was a total loss. I took a really, really hard hit to the head from the airbag. My dad almost cut his entire hand. We were both pretty shaken up.
“The day after, I had a game… I’m the kind of guy who hides his injuries and the bad things that happen to him. You know? I’m not the type who comes and complains about things that happened to me or about injuries. I play… As long as I can walk on two legs, I can play.”
This went completely under my radar, but it turns out former New York Knicks bench warmer Guerschon Yabusele appeared on French show First Team over a week ago and touched on plenty of things, including the Knicks. Yabu admitted his frustration with the lack of playing time (“The games go on, and well, I still do not play. And sometimes, zero minutes.”) and seemingly started to think about what might happen given his precarious situation (“I would go home, I did not know what to do anymore. I said to myself, ‘But it is not possible. I am not going to go back into that for the whole season.’ I am not going to not play for two years.’”).
A free agent in a week, Yabusele also said he’s prioritizing signing another NBA deal, though he’s keeping his door open for a return to Europe.
Charles Oakley has spoken, and he’s mad at both James Dolan and Patrick Ewing. By extension, he’s happy about the current Captain.
This is incredible 🇨🇻💙 There was an interview happening with a fan and Cape Verde fans went insane seeing their team score their first goal ever#FIFAWorldCuppic.twitter.com/L0Vyi06W3I
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 31: The NBA logo on May 31, 2026, outside the NBA Store in New York, NY. (Photo by Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
AJ Dybantsa does not want to hear “from the Boston area.” He grew up in Brockton, Massachusetts. In his head, when he imagines the moment – when his name was called and he would walk out onto the stage – he wants to hear “from Brockton.
When Malika Andrews reached out to the projected No.1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft the other day, he wanted to make sure she understood the difference. He wanted to make sure she wrote it down: he’s from Brockton, not Boston.
She wrote it down. She always does.
Andrews, 31, is the face of ESPN’s NBA coverage. She hosts “NBA Today” and “NBA Countdown,” just wrapped the 2026 NBA Finals on site and in 2022 became the first woman to host the draft.
So, she sweats the details, like the preferred hometown of a teenager, because for 30 seconds she'll decide how the biggest moment of his life will sound.
Andrews doesn’t just wing those seconds. She reports them.
The instinct is deeply ingrained. Andrews came up from print, ran her college newspaper at the University of Portland, earned a New York Times reporting fellowship, and then covered the NBA for the Chicago Tribune. ESPN hired her in 2018 to write. She's also the host of WNBA Countdown and just this year has added tennis to her roster; she will be hosting ESPN's Wimbledon coverage in a week. Tennis isn't her background, but she is a reporter at heart.
She likes to tell the story of the people behind the news.
The Knicks are still on her mind as she prepares for the draft. She was on site when they won their first title in 53 years. It wasn’t the trophy that she remembered.
“There’s winning an NBA title, and then there’s winning an NBA title for a franchise like the Knicks,” Andrews said. “I’ve covered a lot of champions. This one was different.”
What she keeps thinking about is how the team will get remembered. Jalen Brunson, told for years he was too small, just a second-round pick. OG Anunoby, hurt during Toronto’s 2019 title run and stuck watching. Josh Hart, a near disaster of a mistake in Game 4 that ended up not mattering.
“I am glad they will be remembered as winners instead,” Andrews said.
She knows the job of a reporter helps shape those memories.
Andrews tries to find the best words for the biggest moments, that put the people in context. Like the Knicks' title and the kids’ memories of beginning their NBA career.
So, before the draft, even during those NBA Finals, she calls every prospect she can reach, about 15 to 20 of them. She does some research, but she always makes a point to ask every prospect the same thing. “When you dreamed about that moment, what did you hear?”
“It’s a clip you’re going to go back and watch,” she said, the whole family will watch it. “I do want their input.”
Reporters do not owe a source input in how a story is shaped. Andrews makes an exception for input for the draft. The kids get one shot for a lifetime memory, she wants to get it right.
On the floor, she works from a binder – alphabetized by last name – no teleprompter, the night running live. Below the camera, her researcher Gil Bransford holds the lowest-tech tool in the building, a note card clipped to what amounts to a trash picker-upper and taps the bottom of her chair with updates.
The morning of the draft, Andrews is filled with nervous excitement. The lights and camera go on, the first name is called and that drains out.
“I always feel this deep calm,” she said. “And it’s not about (me), it’s about these guys.”
The draft opens Tuesday, June 23, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, 10 days after the city’s title. Dybantsa is expected to be among the first names commissioner Adam Silver reads. When the moment comes, there will be general talk: one year at BYU, top player in the country, three gold medals with the national team in the under-19, 17, and 16’s, etc.
Meanwhile, Andrews will quickly flip to the notes she wrote while talking to him. There, in her writing she will see the thing that was most important to him.
And Andrews will remember to say that he is from Brockton.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 2: Head Coach Mitch Johnson and Associate Head Coach Sean Sweeney of the San Antonio Spurs look on during 2026 NBA Finals Practice and Media Availability on June 2, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Ryan Stetz/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
We all heard about it during the Spurs historic seventh NBA Finals run. Their associate head coach and defensive mastermind Sean Sweeney had been tapped to serve as head coach of the Orlando Magic.
Sweeney has served in the NBA since 2011 where he started as a video coordinator for the New Jersey Nets. In 2013, he transitioned to assistant coach in the now Brooklyn Nets organization. he continued with stints with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2014, Detroit Pistons in 2018, and Dallas Mavericks in 2021 before moving to San Antonio last season.
In his season with the Spurs, he was credited for their defensive acumen. He’s received high praise from superstars Luka Doncic and Victor Wembanyama.
Here is Sweeney’s introductory press conference. The interview starts at the 20 minute mark.
Sweeney just landed his first head coaching job, replacing Jamahl Mosley who was with the organization for five seasons. The Magic made it into the playoffs last season but were sent packing at the end of the first round at the hands of the Detroit Pistons.
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There's still a debate about the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Will the Washington Wizards select AJ Dybantsa or Darryn Peterson, or maybe Cameron Boozer? The weeks since the NBA Draft lottery haven't settled much, with rumors and speculation seizing control as NBA executives and agents try to shape the narrative to their benefit.
There's a long legacy of Hall of Famers produced from the No. 1 spot atop the draft order, with players like Elgin Baylor (1958), Oscar Robertson (1960), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1969), Magic Johnson (1979), Shaquille O'Neal (1992) and Tim Duncan (1997) among those who thrived under the spotlight.
Recent history shows the right No. 1 pick can change the direction of a franchise. The wrong one can set a team back for years. Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 pick in 2025 and the reigning NBA rookie of the year, was a relative slam dunk compared to the decision facing the Wizards front office this time around.
Here's a ranking of every No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft since 2000:
Career: 4 seasons, 151 games (regular season + playoffs)
Stats: 4.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, 0.5 assists
What's worse for a team than a No. 1 pick who didn't live up to the billing because of injury? A No. 1 pick who didn't live up to the billing because the team completely bungled the evaluation process. That's the fate of Anthony Bennett after the Cavaliers shocked everyone when it chose the UNLV forward with the No. 1 pick only for him to be discarded by the team the next year. Bennett ended up playing four NBA seasons with four different franchises and has since carved out a lengthy career in the G League and overseas.
25. Greg Oden, 2007
Portland Trail Blazers
Career: 3 seasons, 114 games
Stats: 8 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.2 blocks
Oden missed more NBA seasons than he played after being drafted No. 1 in 2007 as a one-and-done star from Ohio State. He played in 61 games in his 2008-09 rookie season (after sitting out his first season following the draft), and then appeared in just 44 games the rest of his career due to foot and knee injuries.
It's tough to judge the Hawks' top pick based on his first two seasons in the league, but 2025-26 was a step back. After making the all-rookie team, Risacher fell out of the rotation this past season as the Hawks surged into the playoffs. There are questions about his long-term future in Atlanta, and he could be an intriguing trade piece this offseason.
23. Markelle Fultz, 2017
Philadelphia 76ers
Career: 9 seasons, 275 games
Stats: 10.2 points, 4.3 assists, 3.1 rebounds, 14.2 PER
A mysterious shoulder ailment that affected Fultz's shooting motion fundamentally altered the trajectory of his career and led to a failed stint with the Sixers after Philadelphia used the No. 1 pick on him. Fultz forged a rotation role with the Orlando Magic two years ago and played 21 games with the Sacramento Kings in 2024-25. He appeared in five games for the Toronto Raptors at the end of this past regular season.
22. Kwame Brown, 2001
Washington Wizards
Career: 12 seasons, 625 games
Stats: 6.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, 0.9 assists
Michael Jordan's notorious No. 1 pick with the Wizards wound up playing for seven teams in the NBA after coming to the league straight from high school. His best statistical season came playing alongside Jordan with the Wizards, and he was later a rotation player on Lakers' playoff teams starring Kobe Bryant.
21. Andrea Bargnani, 2006
Toronto Raptors
Career: 10 seasons, 561 games
Stats: 14.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists
Bargnani settled in as more of a role player after the Raptors used the No. 1 pick on him. The Italian 7-footer had three-straight seasons in which he averaged at least 15 points per game while shooting better than 34.5% from 3-point range.
20. DeAndre Ayton, 2018
Phoenix Suns
Career: 8 seasons, 525 games
Stats: 15.8 points, 10.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 19.7 PER
Ayton is on his third team and got a fresh start with the Los Angeles Lakers this past season. He made the NBA Finals with Phoenix in 2020, but this 7-footer with a wealth of offensive tools has seen his production decline in recent seasons and appears better-suited as a role player at this point.
Martin was a one-time All-Star and a key starter on a Nets team that went to the NBA Finals in back-to-back seasons. He carved out a 15-year career as a role player coveted for his interior defense, rebounding and toughness.
Stats: 21 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 17.9 PER
Flagg is poised to move up this list quickly after being named the 2026 NBA Rookie of the Year. He shined with the Mavericks after a slow start, leading the team in points, rebounds, assists and steals. He became the youngest player in NBA history to log three straight 30-point games and set an NBA record for points by a teenager in a single game (51). He's also the first rookie since Michael Jordan to lead his team in points, rebounds, assists and steals.
The toll Simmons' injury issues, outside shooting woes and attitude concerns have taken on his reputation has overshadowed some of the productive seasons he had after being selected No. 1 by the Sixers. The 2018 NBA Rookie of the Year earned one All-NBA nod, led the league in steals in 2020 and was named to the NBA All-Defensive teams twice. He last played for the Los Angeles Clippers during the 2024-25 season.
Drafted No. 1 by Cleveland and then included in the trade that sent LeBron James back to the Cavaliers, Wiggins is now on his third team (the Miami Heat) since starting his career with the Timberwolves. The 2015 NBA Rookie of the Year was a key starter on the Golden State Warriors' 2022 championship team and shot better than 40% from 3-point range for the first time in his career this past season.
15. Zion Williamson, 2019
New Orleans Pelicans
Career: 7 seasons, 276 games
Stats: 23.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 24.6 PER
Williamson ranks lower than some of his relative peers on this list, as the two-time All-Star has yet to make an All-NBA team with the Pelicans because of his injury and availability issues. The 25-year-old proved more durable this past season while playing 60 games, but his production dipped from previous All-Star campaigns and New Orleans had another unsuccessful season.
The Australian center once led the league in blocks (2011) and eventually earned a third-team All-NBA nod and a spot on the All-Defensive team after being drafted No. 1 overall by the Bucks. He was also a prominent role player on the Golden State Warriors when they won the 2015 NBA championship.
13. Paolo Banchero, 2022
Orlando Magic
Career: 4 seasons, 210 games
Stats: 22.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 17.2 PER
The 2023 NBA Rookie of the Year had his second season shortened by injury and went through some more growing pains as the Magic attempted to elevate into contenders this past season. But Banchero remains a promising inside-outside threat who has been the leading scorer of a postseason team every season since being drafted No. 1 by Orlando.
Wall led the Wizards past the first round of the playoffs three times in four years during his prime after the franchise had accomplished the feat just once in the previous 30 years. The athletic point guard, who last played in an NBA game in January 2023, earned All-NBA and All-Defense honors one time apiece during his career.
The 7-foot-6 Chinese center became one of the best centers in the NBA with the Rockets but had his run as an elite player cut short due to injury. Ming earned All-NBA honors five times but only once did his teams in Houston advance past the first round of the playoffs.
Cunningham earned first-team All-NBA honors for the first time this past season after leading the Pistons to the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. He enjoyed a breakthrough in Detroit in 2025, earning third-team All-NBA honors while leading the franchise to a playoff win for the first time since 2008.
9. Derrick Rose, 2008
Chicago Bulls
Career: 15 seasons, 775 games
Stats: 17.4 points, 5.2 assists, 3.2 rebounds, 18.0 PER
Rose would be ranked higher based on his brief rise and peak as an NBA player, when he won the 2009 Rookie of the Year award and the 2011 MVP award in his third season after the Bulls took him No. 1 overall. Injuries derailed Rose's time in Chicago after a run to the 2011 Eastern Conference Finals, though he did carve out a lengthy career as a role player. His only All-NBA honor came during his MVP season.
8. Blake Griffin, 2009
Los Angeles Clippers
Career: 13 seasons, 833 games
Stats: 19 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 21.0 PER
Griffin didn't play during his first year in the NBA due to injury, but he won NBA Rookie of the Year in 2011 as part of a strong run of seasons during the first portion of his career with the "Lob City" Clippers. Griffin was a five-time All-NBA selection, including one nod later with the Detroit Pistons.
7. Karl-Anthony Towns, 2015
Minnesota Timberwolves
Career: 11 seasons, 789 games
Stats: 22.8 points, 11.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 23.6 PER
The 2016 NBA Rookie of the Year was a versatile two-way force for the Knicks as they won their first NBA championship since 1973 this season. Towns also earned third-team All-NBA honors for the third time in his career last year. One of the best 3-point shooting big men in league history, Towns previously led the Timberwolves to a playoff series win for the first time in 20 years.
6. Anthony Edwards, 2020
Minnesota Timberwolves
Career: 6th season, 494 games
Stats: 24.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 18.2 PER
Edwards could be poised to climb even higher based on the potential shown during his first six years in the NBA. He's already a two-time All-NBA selection (and fell just shy of the 65-game threshold to achieve the feat a third time this past season). The two-way threat averaged a career-best 28.8 points this season while also setting new career highs for field goal percentage and 3-point percentage.
Wembanyama has quickly leaped into the top-5 of this list after leading the Spurs to the NBA Finals, earning first team all-NBA honors and winning the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award during his third season in the NBA. He finished third in MVP voting this year and appears poised to be the best big man in the league for a generation.
Irving was the 2012 Rookie of the Year after the Cavaliers chose him with the No. 1 overall pick and then won an NBA championship alongside LeBron James in 2016. He's a three-time All-NBA selection (and did so with three different teams) and made the NBA Finals with the Dallas Mavericks in 2024. Irving did not play for the Mavericks during the 2025-26 season while recovering from a torn ACL suffered in March 2025.
Davis ranks behind Dwight Howard on this list even though he was the NBA Finals MVP on the team Howard won a championship with because of how Davis' tenure with the team that took him No. 1 went. He had one playoff run with New Orleans before demanding a trade to the Los Angeles Lakers. Davis nonetheless became arguably the best two-way big man of his generation, and the argument is only due to the injuries that sidelined him over the years. Davis is a five-time All-NBA selection (including four first-team nods), a five-time All-Defensive pick and led the NBA in blocks three times.
His career numbers don't do justice to his run as one of the league's most dominating players during his prime years after being picked No. 1 by the Magic. The recent Hall of Fame inductee was an 8-time All-NBA selection (including five first-team nods), named Defensive Player of the Year three times, led the league in rebounding five times and led the NBA in blocks twice. Howard won an NBA championship as a role player with LeBron James and the Lakers in 2020 after leading Orlando past James and into the NBA Finals as a star 11 years earlier.
1. LeBron James, 2003
Cleveland Cavaliers
Career: 23 seasons, 1,924 games
Stats: 27.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 26.9 PER
The NBA's all-time leading scorer is a no-brainer No. 1 choice for the best No. 1 pick since 2000. The four-time MVP, four-time Finals MVP and four-time NBA champion just completed his record-breaking 23rd season in the league and still seems to have more left in the tank. He's only one season removed from earning second team All-NBA honors with the Los Angeles Lakers as a 40-year-old. Though his initial run in Cleveland as its No. 1 pick ended in his controversial "decision" to leave for Miami, James led the Cavaliers to the NBA Finals and then returned to Cleveland to win an NBA championship in 2016. He also won consecutive championships with the Heat in 2012 and 2013 and guided the Lakers to the 2020 championship.
The NBA will chart the early career courses of its next wave of young talent Tuesday night with its annual draft at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
The league's 30 teams will be choosing players over two rounds in two nights.
NBA officials said they wanted to give teams more time to group between rounds and have additional time between picks in the second round. A second night also allowed more time to "showcase the draftees."
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - JUNE 13: Jose Alvarado #5 of the New York Knicks celebrates with the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy after the victory against the San Antonio Spurs in Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center on June 13, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
New York is the basketball capital of the world.
The game wasn’t invented here, but the history of it has been woven into the fabric of life in the city. There are thousands of basketball courts across the five boroughs that some of the most iconic players to ever play the game once roamed. There’s a reason that Madison Square Garden is known as the Mecca.
Now imagine being one of the millions of kids who’ve grown up in New York City, growing up a Knicks fan, and seeing the torment that the franchise has gone through for 50 years.
Now imagine being good enough to make the NBA and getting the chance to play for said team. That alone would be fulfilling a lifelong dream, but now imagine being a key part of the team that brings a championship to a city that had been starving for one for much longer than you’ve been alive.
Fortunately, we got one of those feel good stories as a subplot of this championship run.
SAN ANTONIO, TX – JUNE 13: Jose Alvarado #5 of the New York Knicks poses for a portrait after winning Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs on June 13, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Jose Alvarado was born in Brooklyn on April 12, 1998, to a Mexican mother and a Puerto Rican father. He grew up in public housing, both in Brooklyn and his later home in Queens, where he came onto the basketball scene at Christ the King Regional High School.
As one of the best players in the New York circuit, winning multiple Player of the Year awards and recording a quadruple-double as a senior, he was a three-star recruit in the Class of 2017, but still ranked beneath the likes of Hameir Wright, Isaiah Washington, Mamadou Doucoure, and Keith Williams. He was heavily pursued by local schools in Seton Hall and Rutgers, but committed to play for Josh Pastner at Georgia Tech in the ACC.
Right out the gate at Georgia Tech, Alvarado was the team’s starting point guard. He averaged 12 points, 3.7 assists, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.7 steals as a freshman, but didn’t earn All-Freshman honors. His scoring was never the feature of his game, but he was the face of a Yellow Jackets program that was trying to emerge from the darkness.
After making Third-Team All-ACC as a junior, he raised his game as a senior, leading his team to its best conference record in 25 years, being named to Second-Team All-ACC, and winning ACC Defensive Player of the Year after leading the conference with 2.8 steals a game. In the ACC Championship Game, he had five steals and played every single second of a five-point win over Florida State to win the Yellow Jackets their first conference tournament title in 28 years, sending them to their first NCAA Tournament since 2010.
It was a forgettable first-round loss in Alvarado’s final game at Georgia Tech, but he had established himself as a legend at that university and hoped to continue his gritty playstyle to the next level. Unfortunately for him, 60 picks came and went, as he went undrafted in the 2021 NBA Draft before latching on with the New Orleans Pelicans for Summer League, earning a two-way contract.
He only played five games down in the G-League with the Birmingham Squadron, averaging 19.8 points, 6.8 assists, six rebounds, and 3.4 steals. His hard work and exceptional play in the G-League earned him playing time with the main club, where he quickly earned a reputation. It didn’t take long for him to start getting chippy with anyone who wanted it.
By the start of his second season in 2022-23, he was a mainstay in the Pelicans’ rotation, averaging nine points, three assists, and a steal across 61 games while gaining a penchant for his backcourt steals, earning him the nickname “Grand Theft Alvarado”.
He finished sixth in Sixth Man of the Year voting in 2023-24 and was slowly contributing more and more for a Pelicans team that was stuck in neutral. Sure, they made a pair of playoff appearances in 2022 and 2024, but they were dead on arrival with Zion Williamson hurt for both series. After averaging a career-high 10.3 points per game, albeit on career-worst efficiency, in 2024-25, he was entering a contract year with real trade value.
So after this season became lost for the Pelicans again, they shopped him on the open market. Armed with a reasonable salary of $4.5 million and a team-friendly player option in 2026-27, he would have a lot of suitors. The team that happened to come calling, though, was his hometown squad.
Just in: The New Orleans Pelicans are trading Jose Alvarado to the New York Knicks, sources tell ESPN. Homecoming for the Pelicans guard. pic.twitter.com/OEG3GVFX05
For Dalen Terry and two second-round picks, Alvarado had come home. His debut was on the road, but he immediately made an impact in a major rivalry game up at TD Garden against the Celtics with 12 points.
After struggling in his home debut, he had a magical moment in MSG South, splashing a career-high eight threes against the Sixers in a major blowout before the All-Star break.
Jose Alvarado
2/11/2026
26 PTS | 4 AST | 5 STL | 90.8 TS%
In only his second game with the Knicks he showcased all of his shot making ability, playmaking and pesky defense that ended up being huge off the bench during the championship run pic.twitter.com/guuWBut9ui
From there, his impact was up and down. He’d struggle at times, but he’d be part of a major bench volt of energy in big wins over the Spurs, Rockets, and Raptors. Every other game, he was putting up a plus-minus of at least +15, a game-breaking margin. He’d go through stretches of struggle, of triumph, of trials and tribulations. Like the team itself, he waxed and waned heading into the playoffs.
But his role entering the playoffs wasn’t crystal clear. He took two DNP-CDs in early April and didn’t play in a Game 1 win against Atlanta. He played in the next two games, both losses, but didn’t make much of an impact. In Mike Brown’s nine-man rotation, he was the odd man out.
But with Landry Shamet struggling, they needed a spark off the bench, and he gave them that with some timely threes in Games 4 and 5, being a big part of the Knicks’ dominance in the final three games of that series.
"Look how he's just lurking."
Another look at Alvarado's sneaky steal that led to OG's tough bucket 🔥
He would be reduced to just 7-8 minutes a game in the Sixers series, but knocked down a three in all four games of a very uncompetitive sweep. For a guy who’s not known for his three-ball, he knew how to make a big one.
Against Cleveland, you didn’t see much of him until Game 4, where his 10-minute stint resulted in the bench mob burying a half-dead but analytically alive Cavaliers squad, outscoring them by 21 points in his minutes in the ECF clincher.
He was pretty quiet entering the Finals, but his impact was loud when he got to the biggest stage. He hit big threes to halt the Spurs’ momentum, he went right at the giant in the middle of the court with no fear, he played tenacious defense. The Knicks won his minutes by a combined 20 points through three games, but entering the fourth quarter of Game 4, the Knicks were spiraling and on the verge of relinquishing all momentum in the series.
But just then, the momentum breaker struck again. Paired with Jalen Brunson in lineups for the first time all postseason, the New York kid had the quarter of his life.
His heroics, coupled with the tremendous clutch performances by OG Anunoby and Brunson, snatched the Spurs’ soul. His Game 5 struggles didn’t matter. They climbed the mountaintop, and he was a big reason why.
His emotions after the game told the whole story. His excitement in the locker room and at the parade wrote another chapter. It’s a story of a kid from New York City being the homegrown link of a team that ended a half-century of suffering.
Many New York kids have gotten to play for the Knicks. Mark Jackson, Rod Strickland, Taj Gibson, Bernard King, Stephon Marbury, Carmelo Anthony. The list goes on and on.
Only one of them got to win a title here. That’s Jose Alvarado. An inspiration to all the young Knicks fans who live in the city, that one day, that can be them.
The title means a lot to the city, to the fans, and to the team. I suspect that it means just a bit more to Jose.
(P&T will be doing player-by-player article tributes over the next few weeks to commemorate the special team that ended our long, half-century nightmare)
Oklahoma City is trying to reduce its massive upcoming tax bill, and Atlanta has become the beneficiary.
The Thunder are trading Aaron Wiggins to the Hawks for two second-round picks, a trade first reported by Shams Charania of ESPN. Officially, the trade is Wiggins for the Hawks' 2030 second-round pick and the least favorable of the 2032 Hawks or Lakers pick.
For Oklahoma City, this is essentially a salary dump. Wiggins is set to make $9.2 million next season, and that now comes off OKC's books (and creating a roster spot if the Thunder decide to use both first-round picks they control). Most importantly, the trade lowers the team's expected $213 million luxury tax bill down to $152 million. Expect more moves by the Thunder to try to lower that bill even further in the coming weeks.
Atlanta picks up a quality wing player, one who averaged 9.4 points a game last season for the Thunder, but his minutes were getting squeezed by the rise of Ajay Mitchell and the arrival of Jared McCain.
Wiggins is a testament to the Thunder's player development. They drafted him No. 55 but helped him grow into a quality rotation player, and during the Thunder's championship season, he averaged 12 points per game.
This trade will not become official until July 6 (the day the NBA's free agent moratorium is lifted) because of the money involved. The Hawks will absorb Wiggins' salary into an $11 million trade exemption they have, but this will hard-cap them at the first tax apron. Which is not that big a deal because they aren't expected to go near that anyway.
Two ex-NBA players were suspended by the BIG3 after an altercation during the first game of the season Saturday.
Lance Stephenson and Michael Beasley were ejected from the first game of the new league season and will now miss one game each for their actions after Beasley got into an incident with Dwight Howard.
Stephensen then followed it up by throwing punches at a member of the LA Riot after he threw another player down to the ground.
Both Beasley and Stephenson play for Miami 305 and were kicked out of the game.
Lance Stephenson went for punch in a BIG3 game against the LA Riot on Saturday night. X @Ballislife
Lance Stephenson wanted smoke with the whole LA Riot team!! Game called after altercation with both teams. pic.twitter.com/6Ya6pOpFYu
“After reviewing the incident, the league determined that their conduct fell short of the standards of professionalism, respect and sportsmanship expected of all BIG3 players,” BIG3 commissioner Clyde Dexter said in a statement announcing their suspensions. “Competition drives our league. We embrace physical play and welcome trash talk, however, fighting of any kind will not be tolerated. Protecting the integrity of the game and the safety of everyone on and around the court remains our top priority.”
In order for Miami 305 to ensure it has the four minimum players required to be available, the BIG3 will stagger their suspensions.
Beasley will serve his suspension during Week 3 of the season in Miami and Stephenson will be suspended during Week 2.
Michael Beasley gets into it with Dwight Howard, which leads to his ejection. X @ES_sportsnews
League founder Ice Cube also took to social media to apologize for the actions of the two players.
“Apologies to everybody watching the Miami 305 vs. LA riot on @CBS yesterday. We all wanted to see a great basketball game. That wasn’t it,” he wrote on X.
Stephenson played 10 years in the NBA, with the first seven being in Indiana.
He also spent time with the Lakers, Hornets, Clippers, Grizzlies, Hawks, Timberwolves and Pelicans, and averaged 8.6 points per game during his career.
Beasley spent 11 years in the NBA, with stops in the Heat, Timberwolves, Suns, Knicks, Bucks, Lakers, and Rockets, while averaging 12.4 points per game.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 25: Jalen Green #4 of the Phoenix Suns drives the ball against Aaron Wiggins #21 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first half in Game Three of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 25, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Now, the reached into their bag of second round picks to grab a flier in the form of Aaron Wiggins:
The Oklahoma City Thunder are finalizing a trade to send guard Aaron Wiggins to the Atlanta Hawks for two second-round picks (Atlanta's in 2030 and the least favorable of Hawks/Lakers in 2032), sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/ypffJ3jMOk
Wiggins (no relation to Andrew of the Miami Heat) is a product of Oklahoma City’s great drafting and development program. A good wing athlete with some handles and shooting on offense, Wiggins is a career 38% shooter from deep as a role playing ‘3-and-D’ type for the Thunder.
Before the 2024-25 NBA season, Wiggins signed a five-year, $45 million extension that declines over the contract and has a team option in 2028-29. Effectively, the Hawks will owe him slightly over $17 million over the next two guaranteed seasons.
Wiggins thus far has topped out at 24.2 minutes per game way back in his rookie season but hasn’t been able to consistently crack a larger role with how deep and talented OKC’s rosters have been the past few years. It’s possible Atlanta gives him a chance to prove he can handle a bigger role.
Raphielle Johnson
Game called after altercation with both teams. 
