The Rams handed No. 19 Saint Louis its first Atlantic 10 Conference loss of the season with an 81-76 win at Thomas M. Ryan Center in Kingston, Rhode Island, on Tuesday, Feb. 17. As the clock hit double zeros, fans rushed the court to celebrate the upset victory.
The loss dropped Saint Louis to 24-2 on the season and 12-1 in Atlantic 10 play, while Rhode Island improved to 15-11 (6-7). While the loss likely will not be enough to keep the Billikens out of the NCAA Tournament, it is a tough loss to take.
Saint Louis had won 18 straight games since a 78-77 loss to Stanford on Nov. 28. Robbie Avila led the Billikens with 21 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals in the loss.
Jonah Hinton hit nine 3-pointers en route to a 29-point performance on 10-of-17 shooting from the field in the win for the Rams. Myles Corey added 15 points and five rebounds, while Tyler Cochran added 11 points for Rhode Island.
Tanking, in a nutshell, is strategically and effectively losing games through playing or not playing players that can help win. In the long run, the hope is to position oneself in the draft and in free agency to improve the team long term.
One of the latest sports figures to partake in the conversation was Dallas Mavericks minority owner and basketball advisor Mark Cuban, who took to social media to express his take.
Cuban posted on X, formerly Twitter, saying that "tanking isn't the issue" and went on to explain "why the NBA should embrace tanking," even providing his own experience as a previous majority owner of the Mavericks for more than two decades.
"The NBA has [quite] been misguided thinking that fans want to see their teams compete every night with a chance to win. It’s never been that way that way," Cuban wrote. "When I got into the NBA, they thought they were in the basketball business. They aren’t."
"They are in the business of creating experiences for fans. Few can remember the score from the last game they saw or went to. They can’t remember the dunks or shots. What they remember is who they were with. Their family, friends, a date. That’s what makes the experience special."
Cuban, the Mavericks' majority owner for 23 years and now minority owner, said that fans understand when their team isn't good. What fans prioritize more is hope, he implied.
"Fans know their team can’t win every game. They know only one team can win a ring. What fan that care about their team’s record want is hope. Hope they will get better and have a chance to compete for the playoffs and then maybe a ring," Cuban wrote. "The one way to get closer to that is via the draft. And trades. And cap room. You have a better chance of improving via all 3, when you tank."
Tanking happens often in the NBA and it has for a better part of the last two decades. At least Cuban said so on X.
He also added that fans "appreciated it" whenever they would willfully lose games.
"We didn’t tank often. Only a few times over 23 years, but when we did, our fans appreciated it. And it got us to where we could improve, trade up to get Luka [Doncic] and improve our team," Cuban wrote on X.
Cuban and the Mavericks acquired Doncic via a trade with the Atlanta Hawks, who selected Doncic with the third overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, for Trae Young, who Dallas chose at the fifth pick, and a protected future first-round pick.
Positioning themselves for that pick, they finished the previous season with a 24–58 record, which included a 3-15 start through their first 18 games, and finished the season winning just two of 14 games.
During the 2024-25 season, the Mavericks sent Doncic, along with Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris, to the Los Angeles Lakers in a controversial blockbuster trade in return for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a first-round pick.
Dallas finished the 2024-25 season with a 39-43 record, losing in a postseason play-in qualification game to the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Mavericks became the second straight team, after the Hawks, to qualify for postseason play and to receive the first overall pick despite only having a 1.8% chance to win the NBA draft lottery.
The bottom NBA standings in the 2025-26 season
The Sacramento Kings have the worst record in the league at 12-44, just above them are the Washington Wizards at 14-39. Here are the bottom ten teams in the NBA standings through the All-Star break in the 2025-26 season.
Tank-a-thon predicts 2026 NBA Draft through All-Star break
The following order in the 2026 NBA Draft, according to Tankathon.com, predicts the Kings with the No. 1 pick and the Wizards at No. 2.
The Pelicans would have the No. 3 pick but it goes to the Hawks after a they acquired an unprotected 2026 first-round pick from New Orleans during the 2025 NBA Draft as part of a deal for the 13th pick, which was Derik Queen. The Hawks secured the right to the most favorable 2026 first-round pick between the Pelicans and the Bucks.
Here's the hypothetical order of the 2026 NBA Draft as of Feb. 17, according to Tankathon.com:
No. 1: Sacramento Kings
No. 2: Washington Wizards
No. 3: New Orleans Pelicans (traded to Hawks)
No. 4: Indiana Pacers
No. 5: Brooklyn Nets
No. 6: Utah Jazz
No. 7: Dallas Mavericks
No. 8: Memphis Grizzlies
No. 9: Milwaukee Bucks
No. 10: Chicago Bulls
Cuban: Bigger issue in NBA than tanking
Cuban stands by that tanking is one of least of the NBA's concerns, or should be. Rather he insisted that the NBA should focus on game attendance.
"The NBA should worry more about fan experience than tanking," Cuban wrote on X. "It should worry more about pricing fans out of games than tanking. You know who cares the least about tanking , a parent who cant afford to bring their three kids to a game and buy their kids a jersey of their [favorite] player. Tanking isn’t the issue. Affordability and quality of game presentation are."
The average cost for a family of four to attend an NBA game during the 2025-26 season is $277.65 for the cheapest available tickets, a parking spot, two beers, two sodas and four hot dogs, according to Bookies.com.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Jordan Burks scored 16 of his 23 points before halftime and Themus Fulks scored 14 points and UCF ended a pair of streaks on Tuesday night by beating TCU 82-71.
UCF (18-7, 7-6 Big 12) stopped its three-game losing streak while ending TCU's (16-10, 6-7) three-game winning streak.
Reserve George Beale Jr. added 11 points for UCF.
The Knights built a 9-2 lead and never trailed en route to a 58%-shooting effort (15 of 26) before the break. UCF shot 49% (28 of 57) overall.
Micah Robinson scored 20 points, David Punch 14, Xavier Edmonds 12 and Jayden Pierre and reserve Tanner Toolson 10 each for the Horned Frogs.
Toolson's 3-pointer with 14:37 left before halftime brought TCU within 11-10. Burks countered with his own 3 and Punch followed with a shot in the lane and TCU would never get closer.
UCF went on a 10-2 run to extend the lead to 24-14 with 10:27 before halftime and stayed ahead by double digits with the exception of two seconds late in the second half.
TCU went on a 9-0 run cutting the Knights' 19-point lead to 10, but a Fulks floater pushed the lead to 67-55 with 6:04 left. TCU used a 14-3 run to draw within 78-69 with 59 seconds left before Fulks made two free throws with 57 seconds to go.
OXFORD, Miss. (AP) — Cotie McMahon scored a career-high 39 points to surpass 2,000 for her career and No. 17 Mississippi beat No. 21 Tennessee 94-81 on Tuesday night.
Ole Miss (21-6, 8-4 Southeastern Conference) never trailed and held a double-digit lead for the entire second half. McMahon's jumper gave the Rebels a 25-point lead with 1:51 left in the third quarter.
McMahon has 2,038 career points, is the fourth player in program history to surpass 2,000 and the first since Angel Baker (2022-23).
Latasha Lattimore recorded her fourth consecutive double-double and sixth this season, finishing with 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Rebels. Christeen Iwuala chipped in with 16 points and Tianna Thompson scored 12.
Talaysia Cooper scored a season-best 30 points on 12-of-26 shooting to lead Tennessee (16-8, 8-4). Lauren Hurst added 16 points off the bench.
McMahon had 16 points, seven rebounds and four assists in the first half to help Ole Miss build a 44-33 halftime advantage. Iwuala scored 12 first-half points for the Rebels. Cooper scored nine points to pace the Lady Vols.
The matchup was rescheduled from Jan. 26 due to winter weather. The Lady Vols entered having won nine of the last 10 games in the series.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - DECEMBER 22: Thomas Bryant #3 of the Cleveland Cavaliers guards Mason Plumlee #22 of the Charlotte Hornets during the second quarter at Rocket Arena on December 22, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Antonio Spurs are adding some depth to their front court. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the Spurs signed veteran center Mason Plumlee to a 10-day contract.
The 35-year-old center will join the team after the Spurs opened up a roster spot by waiving Jeremy Sochan last week. Plumlee started the season with the Charlotte Hornets, but played in only 14 games, averaging 1.9 points and 2.9 rebounds. He last appeared in a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on December 22. The 13-year veteran has averaged 7.9 points and 6.6 rebounds over his career. This will be Plumlee’s eighth NBA team, but he is most known for his time with the Brooklyn Nets and Denver Nuggets.
Plumlee adds some needed depth and a veteran presence to San Antonio’s locker room. The move closely mirrors what the Spurs did last season by signing Bismack Biyombo, although with less desperation. A healthy Victor Wembanyama and Luke Kornet likely leave Plumlee out of the rotation, but he’s another break-in-case-of-emergency option to go alongside Biyombo and Kelly Olynyk.
Plumlee is best known for his passing and IQ from the center position. He’s averaged 2.4 assists for his career, making quick reads off handoffs and in the short roll. He’s a solid pick-and-roll player due to his strength and IQ. In his prime, he was a good athlete who could contest shots and run the rim for dunks. He doesn’t thrive as a shooter or finisher inside and isn’t well-regarded as a rim protector. More than anything, he’s another big body on a cheap deal who can step in and play spot minutes if the Spurs are shorthanded.
It remains to be seen if Plumlee sticks around for the Spurs’ end-of-the-season run for the playoffs. San Antonio can sign him to a full deal once his 10-day contract is up.
Golden State Warriors superstar guard Stephen Curry hears the chatter wondering how long he'll continue his NBA career.
However, the 37-year-old 3-point specialist isn't feeding into that type of talk and says he hasn't given any thought about it in his 17th season.
Curry told People Magazine that he's "not really putting too much pressure on that."
"Thinking about the end robs you of the now,” Curry said. “I’m enjoying the journey of competing and all the work that goes into it. Hopefully that carries me a long way.”
He has shown zero signs of slowing down. Curry has averaged 27.2 points on 46.8/39.1/93.1 shooting splits in 39 games during the 2025-26 regular season.
However, he's faced minor setbacks this season. Curry just recently missed the All-Star Game and the two previous games for the Warriors as he nurses soreness in his right knee.
The Warriors remain eighth in the Western Conference standings at 29-26. If the postseason began today, they would have a play-in game for the No. 7 playoff spot against the Phoenix Suns.
With the Warriors still hanging in contention and Curry as competitive as they come, there is no retirement in the near future.
"I’ll declare itself, whenever the time comes to call it quits, which I don’t think is anytime soon,” Curry told People.
Curry was drafted by the Warriors with the seventh pick of the first round of the 2009 NBA Draft. He since has become a 12-time All-star, four-time NBA champion. two-time league MVP, a Finals MVP and an Olympic gold medalist.
He is arguably the greatest NBA 3-point shooter ever and was named to the NBA's 75th anniversary team.
One thing's for sure: He's playing next season.
Curry signed a one-year, $62.59 million veteran contract extension with Golden State through the 2026-27 season.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 30: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors drives past Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns during the game at Footprint Center on November 30, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Warriors 113-105. 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 Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to February Daily Topics at Golden State of Mind. A question (almost) every day this month to give the community a prompt to talk about!
The Golden State Warriors entered the NBA All-Star break with a record of 29-26, which is good for eighth place in the Western Conference standings. And the advanced stats agree with that assessment: the Warriors’ garbage-time adjusted net rating of +1.9 is seventh in the conference.
That, of course, doesn’t tell the whole story. The seven teams ahead of Golden State — and most of the teams behind them — return from the break with their top pieces intact. The same can’t be said for the Dubs. Jimmy Butler III will not suit up for the Warriors again this season, and the team is just 6-11 when he doesn’t play, compared to 23-15 when he does.
On the brighter side, Steph Curry is expected to return from injury when the Warriors get back in action on Thursday night against the Boston Celtics, and the team is hoping to debut Kristaps Porziņģis as well. But, in returning to the glass-half-empty side, Curry has been dealing with a few lingering ailments this year, while Porziņģis has dealt with injuries every year of his career — counting this season, he’s averaged just 47.1 games played over his 11 seasons in the NBA (which includes missing an entire year due to injury).
The Warriors will spend the rest of the year jockeying for position, though they seem unlikely to move much in the standings. It’s almost guaranteed that they won’t fall out of the playoff race: currently they stand a whopping eight games ahead of the first team out, and that team (the Memphis Grizzlies) just hit the reset and rebuild buttons at the deadline. They could fall down a spot or two to one of the lesser play-in positions — they’re just 2.5 games ahead of both the Portland Trail Blazers and LA Clippers.
Moving up seems less likely, but it’s possible, too, if the Dubs get hot or one of the teams ahead of them craters for one reason or another. The first play-in team, the Phoenix Suns, is three games ahead of Golden State. The final teams in the guaranteed playoff spots, the Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Lakers, are 4.5 games ahead of the Dubs.
So how high can the Warriors rise, and how far can they fall? For me, the answer is boring: I think they’re stuck in the play-in tournament. I could see them rising one spot to have the top seed in the tourney, or falling to the last spot.
What range of outcomes do you see for the Warriors?
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Robert McCray V scored 18 of his 27 points in the second half, Alex Steen had 13 points and eight rebounds, and Florida State rallied in the second half to beat Boston College 80-72 on Tuesday night.
Florida State trailed by 14 points, 59-45, with 11 minutes remaining before making 11 of its final 14 shots.
Lajae Jones grabbed an offensive rebound and put it in with 2:33 remaining in the second half to give Florida State its first lead, 70-68, since it was 8-5. Then Chauncey Wiggins added a 3-pointer and McCray made a driving layup to make it 75-70 with 50 seconds left.
It was Florida State's largest comeback victory since a 16-point reversal against Wake Forest on Feb. 12, 2025.
Wiggins finished with 11 points and Jones added 10 for Florida State (13-13, 6-7 ACC), which was coming off a 92-point performance against Virginia Tech.
Fred Payne scored 22 points for Boston College (9-17, 2-11) which was looking for its first ACC road win in over two years. Luka Toews and Chase Forte each scored 14 points and Aidan Shaw had 10 points.
Payne and Forte combined to go 6 of 7 from 3-point range, with three makes apiece, in the first half to help Boston College take a 42-32 lead at the break. Toews added two makes from distance as the Eagles went 8 of 12 by halftime.
Boston College finished 11 of 24 from 3-point range.
Up next
Boston College: Continues the road trip at SMU on Saturday.
FSU: Goes on the road to play Clemson on Saturday.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - FEBRUARY 11: Jaren Jackson Jr., #20 of the Utah Jazz talks with assistant coach Scott Morrison during warmups before their game against the Sacramento Kings at the Delta Center on February 11, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Chris Gardner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A letter written by the hand of General William Culvahouse Hardy, dated Wednesday, February 18, 2026, C.E.
This war is not what it used to be. The times have changed faster than anyone could have predicted, and suddenly, nothing feels familiar. I now hardly remember the taste of defeat. The comfort of pre-emptively waving the white flag. The release of screaming into the face of Private George. I gaze upon a stranger’s face in the reflection of the pools as I bathe and stiffen my lip; none wish to see a grown man cry, and certainly fewer wish to see tears on the face of their leader. The war has changed us all, and I can’t say all has been for the better.
The newest batch of recruits has changed everything. Such potent might may allow us to win battle after battle, but at the cost of the war. In response, our war room has employed many a strategem, some of which may have our nation under investigation for war crimes when this is all said and done. May God have mercy, whatever the end.
A letter written by the hand of Private Walker Ross Kessler, dated Wednesday, February 3, 2026, C.E.
My darling, I fear I may never see the sun rise upon your beautiful face once again. I became horribly injured on the battlefield, yet my commanding officer refuses to approve my leave. I wouldn’t approve your cowardice, even if you had Miss America waiting for you back home, he told me once. The irony is lost on him.
I see my closest friends placed on the front lines of our wars, even as the strongest and savviest fall back prematurely. Such tactics will have our nation under tremendous scrutiny, I have no doubt.
The Great Tank Race of 2026 was one of scandal. One of turmoil. And most importantly, one where the powers of the NBA enacted unthinkable legislation to punish the participants employing unforeseen, and incredibly drastic measures. They say all is fair in love and war, but when the former is lost, what is one to make of the latter?
In the camp of the Utah Jazz, wartime placed a considerable financial burden on the already weak economy of their relatively minuscule nation. A $500,000 fine for war crimes was punishment enough, but losing the respect of one’s neighbors was another. In those days, Utah had become synonymous with an oft-employed, but deeply disagreeable practice known as tanking. Though their execution was extreme, there was no doubt that the nation of Jazz was far from the only guilty party in this national struggle.
Friendless and desperate to find a stable foothold, Utah held its ground in the face of opposition.
NBA Tanking Standings: Post All-Star Weekend
1- (+2) Sacramento Kings (12-44)
Kings.
2- (+2) Washington Wizards (14-39) -3.5 GB
We have an entirely new hierarchy in the Tank Race, and the Washington Wizards have officially returned to their rightful place as equal statistical partners for the number one pick. It’s all about ping pong balls, and in the race for plastic, the Wizards now have a 14.0% chance of picking first overall. Trading for and immediately deactivating Anthony Davis was a brilliant move for a team that feels no pressure to compete for a spot in the Play-In. The same can be said about Trae Young, who is still “being evaluated”. Something tells me the next evaluation won’t be good news for those itching to see Young take the floor for the first time as a Wizard.
It’s worth noting that Washington finished last season in this exact position, just behind the league-worst (but tank-best!) Utah Jazz, and still managed to tumble all the way down to the sixth pick. As good as Tre Johnson is, he is not Cooper Flagg, and the same could be said about the disparity between picks 1-4 and picks 5-10 this season.
3- (-1) New Orleans Pelicans (15-41) -3.0 GB
Nobody is a bigger fan of the New Orleans Pelicans than the Atlanta Hawks this season. Sure, trading to grab Derik Queen in the late lottery was a stroke of genius in the short term, but this team is still 14.0% stakeh0lders in odds for the number one pick, and they don’t have the rights to their own draft pick.
Look, I love me a Baby Jokic (Jokic lite? Diet Joke?) as much as the next guy, but if I’m Atlanta, I am far more excited about the prospects of drafting a player in the top three with a draft class as loaded at the top as this one. There are three legitimate number-one caliber players this season, and for Hawks fans in attendance, I don’t mean another Zaccharie Risacher.
For a while there, it seemed as if Indiana would run away with the tanking crown. They had won just six games at our second check-in and sat comfortably at the head of the tank.
Yet, they stumbled. In slow motion and with an agonizing amount of time to marinate in one’s own demise, the Pacers shunned the perfect strategy for installing complementary talent around the injured Tyrese Haliburton, and have begun to fall down the stairs to the tanking pantheon. They have a record of 9-9 since the previous volume of The Great Tank Race, and that could prove fatal on lottery night. Our tank commanders have been stripped of their valor, and I can hardly look.
Then again, the lottery is probably staged anyway, so who knows if they’ll find their way back to the number one pick in one way or another.
5- (+0) Brooklyn Nets (15-38) -4.5 GB
So, the Brooklyn Nets managed to pick five first-rounders last season, betting on playmaking and positional versatility, and that somehow managed to pan out in a remarkably satisfying way for Nets fans. Egor Demin is freaking awesome, Danny Wolf and Drake Powell are quickly becoming icons, Nolan Traore has been electric since Thomas parted ways with the team, and Ben Saraf is… eh. They drafted five rookies in the first round. They can’t all be winners.
Cam Thomas, the Wicked Witch of the Nets, is officially out of the picture and down the barrel of Giannis’ longing gaze, and the young and free Nets are free to frolic as they please.
Giannis Antetokounmpo looks at Cam Thomas like a scrumptious snack after he hits the dagger 38-footer
The acquisition of Jaren Jackson Jr has made the Utah Jazz too good to tank, and everybody knows it. They have a winning record with JJJ on their roster, and not even locking him out of the fourth quarter could keep the wave of good vibes from washing up W’s.
Not to be insensitive, but finding a tumor in JJJ’s knee may have been the best-case scenario for the Jazz, who desperately don’t want to win their way lower than the ninth pick, conveying their first-round pick to (you guessed it) Oklahoma City, and striking out on one of the most apparently stacked draft classes ever. The tumor is benign, but Jackson will be on injured reserve for the remainder of the season.
This team will be dangerous and competitive in 2026-27, but the top priority is retaining this year’s pick. Now the question becomes, how does Utah keep Lauri Markkanen from wringing more wins out of the surging Jazz?
7- (+2) Dallas Mavericks (19-35) -8.0 GB
Here comes Dallas, barreling down the tanking trail. The Mavs have won zero games in their last nine attempts, and have clearly shifted gears after winning four straight prior to that nine-game skid. Cooper Flagg is everything that Dallas could have hoped he’d become (but then again, so was Luka Doncic), yet the Mavericks are staying on target, determined not to fall out of contention.
And they’re doing a scary good job.
8- (N/A) Memphis Grizzlies (20-33)
The scenes in the Memphis front office must have been very reminiscent of Michael Scott sharing the news that their branch would soon be downsized. It’s over, they declared in unison. We are screwed.
Clearly, having hit their ceiling with Morant, JJJ, and Bane, Memphis had nowhere to go. Burning the remains of a lost civilization was all Memphis could do, so that’s exactly what they’ve done. They’re holding a fire sale, and everything must go.
We’ll wish the departed Jazzmen luck in their professional careers — specifically Clayton and Hendricks, whom we hope pan out into great players. In the meantime, Memphis is going to be very bad before they can become any good.
Calvin Barrett is a writer, editor, and prolific Mario Kart racer located in Tokyo, Japan. He has covered the NBA and College Sports since 2024.
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 13: Stephon Castle #5 of Team Melo dribbles the ball during the game against Team Austin during the Rising Stars Game as part of the 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend on Friday, February 13, 2026 at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
All-Star Weekend has wrapped up, and the basketball world is still talking about the San Antonio Spurs. Much of the narrative around the All-Star Game was that Victor Wembanyama set the tone from an intensity standpoint, improving the game for the better.
But he wasn’t the only Spur to star at All-Star Weekend. De’Aaron Fox hit a game-winning three-pointer in the All-Star Game, Dylan Harper hit a game-winner over his brother in the Rising Stars Challenge, and Carter Bryant soared to a runner-up finish in the Dunk Contest.
Before the weekend, we polled readers on who would put on the best performance, and unsurprisingly, they nailed it. Wembanyama may have won the ASG MVP if Team World performed better. Mitch Johnson won’t get a lot of flowers for coaching Team Stripes, which lost in the championship game, but who knows if Kawhi Leonard goes on that 31-point tear if Johnson hadn’t been there to keep him in the game. It makes you think! Either way, the most successful event of the weekend had three Spurs involved in big moments.
Harper and Castle had their moments in the Rising Stars challenge, but it felt like Harper came away as a real winner from the weekend. His highlight against Ron Harper Jr. was hilarious. Ron Harper Sr. missing a layup in the Shooting Stars Challenge was funny, too. And all of the behind-the-scenes footage of Harper made it seem like he got to chum it up with some of the league’s best.
San Antonio could have had even more representation at the event, according to readers. 77% of respondents said that Castle was snubbed for the All-Star game. Castle is averaging 16.5 points, 7 assists, and 5 rebounds while shooting 46.4% from the field and 28.8% from three. Those aren’t quite All-Star stats, but once you figure in his defensive impact and the role he plays on a 38-16 team, it’s hard to deny that he has been one of the most important players in the NBA.
Castle’s time is coming. He’s improved in just about every statistical category since his rookie season. He’s developing into a legitimate two-way force who can make plays for others and get to the basket at will. We’re still waiting on the 2024 NBA Draft class’s first all-star. Castle could reach that height before the rest of the draftees.
The Spurs now head into the stretch run of the season as the playoffs rapidly approach. They not only have a shot at home court advantage in the first two rounds, but could even secure the one-seed if they go on a hot streak to end the season.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Timberwolves finalized their cost-cutting move with point guard Mike Conley by signing the 19th-year veteran on Wednesday, two weeks after trading him away.
Conley was first sent in a three-team deal to the Chicago Bulls, who then packaged him with Coby White in a swap with the Charlotte Hornets the following day. The day after that, Conley was waived.
Being traded twice made Conley eligible to rejoin the Timberwolves, who were thus able to sign him to a minimum contract after lowering their luxury tax bill beneath the first apron by jettisoning his original salary. Getting under the first apron and the rules around it allowed the Timberwolves the salary cap flexibility to acquire guard Ayo Dosunmu in a separate deal with the Bulls.
Conley's production and playing time have dwindled this season, but he has long been a revered presence on the team for his leadership, savvy and experience. He's a four-time winner of the NBA Sportsmanship Award and a two-time teammate of the year honoree by the league.
The Timberwolves (34-22) are in sixth place in the Western Conference. They host the Dallas Mavericks on Friday in their first game after the All-Star break
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 29: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers plays against Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on November 29, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan. 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
The future of LeBron James remains as uncertain as ever as Los Angeles Lakers’ governor Jeanie Buss sounds doubtful the King will be returning next season, according to Alex Sherman of CNBC. Either because of retirement or choosing to play for another team (potentially his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers?).
“Never say never, but you know, he certainly hasn’t given us an indication,” Buss said. “He’s earned the right to decide how his career will go, and you know, he continues to impress.”
James, to this point, has kept his cards close to his vest. He’s refused to give any hint as to where he’ll be playing next season, or if he’ll be playing at all. This is a can that he keeps kicking down the road. Naturally, that means the next few months are going to be a never-ending cycle of speculation.
So, buckle up.
It only makes sense that in all of this chaos, the Cleveland Cavaliers are repeatedly found at the center of it.
Can anyone come up with a better ending to LeBron’s historic career than returning home for one final championship run? Another title in Cleveland would be more valuable than winning anywhere else. It’s the type of thing that sounds too perfect.
But the stars are alligned. The Cavs have dug themselves out of another rebuilding process and could, hypothetically, add James back into the mix on a minimum contract. Whether or not James would agree to that is another story. The point is, it’s possible.
Still, LA is not out of the picture. Sure, they’ve made Luka Doncic the new cornerstone of their franchise and have largely put James on the back burner (at least, aesthetically). But the Lakers are still reportedly open to having James back next season. I’d imagine all 30 NBA teams would welcome James, but you get the point.
“If James wants to play a 24th season, he would be welcomed back in LA. Pelinka declared before the start of this season that he would love it if James retired a Laker, and that sentiment was meant to reflect a 2026 retirement or a 2027 retirement, if James intends to extend his career.”via ESPN
CLEVELAND, OHIO - NOVEMBER 30: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers brings the ball up court during the third quarter against the Boston Celtics at Rocket Arena on November 30, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Celtics defeated the Cavaliers 117-115. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Donovan Mitchell is having the best season of his career. If the rest of the league hasn’t noticed yet, at least Mitchell himself and one of his teammates certainly have.
What am I talking about? Well, The Athletic released their latest player poll, conducted over All-Star weekend. In the survey, they asked, “Who is the best player in the NBA?” to which Mitchell received the third most votes, behind only Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and tied with Luka Doncic.
That would make Mitchell not only the best player in the Eastern Conference according to his peers, but also the best American player in the league.
But there’s one catch. And it’s a big one.
The Athletic only polled 18 players for this specific question. Jokic received six votes, SGA three, while Luka and Mitchell received two.
So who voted for Mitchell?
Well… Mitchell voted for himself. Telling The Athletic’s Joe Vardon, “Come on, Joe, I gotta say me, always.”
The other vote? Mitchell’s teammate Jaylon Tyson, who was also at All-Star weekend competing in the Rising Stars challenge. I have to respect a teammate who rides or dies for the other.
This means we can’t really take anything from this poll. Something tells me the voters were a little biased.
Either way, Mitchell deserves some recognition. He’s averaging 29 points and 5.9 assists per game while carrying the Cavaliers through a rough start to the season. Now he’s catapulting his team back into the mix as Eastern Conference contenders and is meshing nicely with his new backcourt partner, James Harden.
The Athletic polled more than 30 players who were in Los Angeles. The full anonymous results of that poll can be found here. Other questions from the survey include “Who has the best player podcast?” and “What’s the biggest problem facing the league today?”
Legendary Nuggets coach and Brooklyn native Doug Moe died Tuesday at the age of 87.
Moe spent a decade coaching in Denver, during the franchise’s most successful time period, while having coached in San Antonio and Philadelphia. Moe had a successful career on the court as well, earning three All-Star nods in the ABA from 1968 to 1970 and won a championship with the Oakland Oaks in 1969.
Moe grew up in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn and recalled playing at Foster Park in an article published by the New York Times in 1984. He credited spending his youth playing basketball in the borough for his understanding of the game.
Nuggets head coach Doug Moe pleads with his team during a timeout in the closing seconds of a NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets in May 1986. AP
”After school and on Saturdays, we would play there until dark,” Moe said. ”I would play against guys a lot older and they would beat the heck out of me. But I learned a lot.”
The Nuggets described Moe as a “one-of-a-kind leader and person who spearheaded one of the most successful and exciting decades in Nuggets history.”
Moe served as head coach with the Nuggets from 1980-1990 and won 432 games, the franchise record for most wins until Michael Malone broke it in 2024. The Nuggets made the postseason in nine straight years during his tenure as head coach.
“He will forever be loved and remembered by Nuggets fans and his banner commemorating his 432 career victories as head coach will hang in the rafters to forever honor his incredible legacy,” the team said in a statement. “The organization’s thoughts are with Doug’s wife Jane, his son David and all of his family and loved ones who are hurting in this moment.”
Moe got his coaching start as an assistant under his former University of North Carolina teammate Larry Brown in 1972 when he was the coach of the ABA Carolina Cougars.
Nuggets head coach Doug Moe, center, directs his team from the bench during an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns on April 21, 1982. AP
The Brooklyn native received his first head coaching job in 1976 with the Spurs, where Moe spent the next four seasons before taking the Nuggets job.
After his dismissal in 1990, Moe’s next coaching gig didn’t come until 1992 during a brief stint as the head coach of the 76ers. He would return to Denver in the early 2000s as a special consultant and assistant coach from 2002-2008.
“It’s a sad day in Denver,” former Nuggets player Bill Hanzlik wrote on X. “Just learned one of the Absolute Best, Doug Moe has passed away peacefully holding the hand of his wife Jane Moe this morning. God Bless you BIG STIFF from your No Hoper Hanz.”
LeBron James’ future has never been more uncertain.
If you had asked me at the top of the season whether I thought James was going to return for Year 24, my answer would’ve been yes. People around James thought the same thing, including Kevin Love, his former teammate on the Cleveland Cavaliers and close friend.
Love, who won a championship alongside James in Cleveland in 2016, hung out with James the night before the Lakers played Utah on Nov. 18. At the game, Love made it clear he didn’t want to make any assumptions about James.
LeBron James’ future has never been more uncertain. APMany thought James would return for his 24th season, including former teammate and close friend Kevin Love. AP
But when I asked Love if he thought this could be James’ last season, he told me, “I don’t think it will be,” adding, “But at the end of next year, there’s a high likelihood that will be the case.”
Things may have changed since then.
James truly seems undecided about his future. When asked about his plans ahead of the All-Star Game on Sunday, he balked. “I want to live,” he said. “When I know, you guys will know. I don’t know. I have no idea.”
It’s hard to imagine that one of the greatest players of all-time doesn’t have things mapped out, especially James, who’s masterful with the media and deeply cares about his narrative. But it’s also possible that he just wants to see how he feels.
There are some days when the 41-year-old is the embodiment of joy, as he was against Dallas on Thursday, when he was dancing and grinning before tipoff and went on to become the oldest player in NBA history to record a triple-double with 28 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists.
Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
But then there are days when it’s obvious he’s questioning whether he still wants to do this, such as when he was embroiled in drama around Jeanie Buss last month. Or when he was slumped in a chair after a close loss to Oklahoma City last week and acknowledged he was “tired as f—-,” adding, “Sorry if I sound irritated, but I’m 41. My [patience for] irritation is being very, very low as the days go on.”
So, as that sand falls through the hourglass on one of the most storied careers in NBA history, no one knows what James is really thinking.
But if I had to rank the likelihood of what he’ll do, here would be my order.
Team USA Stripes forward LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on in game two against Team Starsduring the 75th NBA All Star Game at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
1. James returns to Cleveland
James cried while watching a video tribute in Cleveland last month. That’s a rare occurrence for the superstar, who showed that type of emotion when he won the 2016 championship with Cleveland and again when he became the league’s all-time leading scorer in 2023.
James returning to Cleveland would bring his illustrious career full circle. It’s where he was drafted in 2003 as an 18-year-old with the weight of his world on his shoulders. It’s where he quickly transformed into the face of the league. It’s where he called himself the greatest player of all-time after he led the Cavs to come back from a 3-1 series deficit in the 2016 NBA Finals against Golden State, something no other team has done. To this day, he still refers to himself “just a kid from Akron” after his accomplishments. His heart is still in Ohio.
Not to mention, the Cavs have made it clear that they’re in win-now mode after trading for James Harden earlier this month, as well as acquiring Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis at the deadline. James praised the Cavs’ moves Tuesday on his podcast, “Mind the Game,” saying, “They’re going for it.”
James’ and the Cavs’ timelines are aligned. While the Lakers are building around Luka Doncic and looking toward their future, the Cavs are all in right now. It makes you wonder if James could return to where his career began and vye for a championship alongside Donovan Mitchell.
As for Mitchell, he recently praised James, telling me, “Just being here in Cleveland, you want to replicate what he did.” When asked if he wanted to team up with the megastar, Mitchell flashed a smile. “That ain’t up to me,” he said. “I’m focused on these guys in the locker room. And from that point, everything else kinda goes where it does.”
Team USA Stripes forward LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates after game two during the 75th NBA All Star Game at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
2. James returns to the Lakers
Heading into the season, I thought James was going to retire in a purple and gold jersey. He loves Los Angeles. Would he really want to pull his daughter out of school and uproot his family? Or be apart from them for a year? He has been in LA eight straight seasons, his longest consecutive stretch anywhere in his career.
But now I’m not so sure about everything.
The ESPN report last month that Buss was frustrated with James over various issues, including his “outsized ego” and the control that he and Klutch wielded over the organization surely didn’t help things.
The Lakers’ priority is Doncic and his future. It’s not clear how James fits into that equation, especially considering they’re aiming to re-sign Austin Reaves to a big contract as well as take a major swing this summer (Read: Giannis Antetokounmpo). James is earning $52.6 million this season and historically has been opposed to taking dramatic pay cuts.
Lakers president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka said in Sept. that he’d love James to retire a Laker.
But Buss reportedly expressed doubt Tuesday over whether James would return to LA for another season, either because he’d retire or go elsewhere, telling CNBC, “Never say never, but you know, he certainly hasn’t given an indication. He’s earned the right to decide how his career will go, and you know, he continues to impress.”
USA Stripes forward LeBron James dunks over World guard Norman Powell, of Jamaica, during the NBA All-Star basketball game Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) AP
3. James retires
I’m ranking this low because it’s hard to imagine James not wanting a farewell tour. Also, he’s still playing at an extremely high level, averaging 22 points on 50.2 percent shooting, 5.8 rebounds and 7.1 assists a game. He’s still capable of being the best player on the floor on any given night. James has always said he’s not going to do this until the wheels fall off. He’s not even remotely close to that point.
4. James joins Golden State
James famously said on “The Shop” in 2022 that if he could play with any player, it would be Steph Curry. James and the 37-year-old Curry met in four straight Finals from 2015-2018 and have a deep well of respect for each other. They’re both in the sunset of their careers and, alongside one another, could be championship contenders.
But would James really join a new franchise in his final season? Curry’s franchise?
Seems highly unlikely.
That said, there’s definitely some level of mutual interest there. The Warriors reportedly made an unsuccessful attempt to trade for James ahead of the Feb. 2024 deadline. And when I asked Draymond Green last month if he’d want to play with James, he didn’t hesitate, “I’ve always wanted to,” he said.
