College Basketball: NCAA Finals: Michigan Morez Johnson (21) celebrates victory with the trophy following game vs UConn at Lucas Oil Stadium. Indianapolis, IN 4/6/2026 CREDIT: Erick W. Rasco (Photo by Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X164879 TK1)
After the Michigan Wolverines won the National Championship, head coach Dusty May and his staff had to quickly get to work putting together the roster for next season. They knew a large chunk of their core team would be out of college eligibility, but they also had questions about some guys who declared for the NBA Draft while maintaining their college eligibility.
Aday Mara, Elliot Cadeau and Morez Johnson Jr. were among those in the latter group, and they were all in very different positions related to the draft process. Mara’s size and production made it seem like he was going to go pro if he received strong feedback from NBA scouts. Cadeau was the opposite, going to get feedback and advice to come out for the draft after next season. Johnson was the true wildcard.
The 6-foot-9 forward put together a strong sophomore season in Ann Arbor, averaging 13.1 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.1 blocks while shooting 62.3 percent from the field. His offensive profile steadily expanded as well, as he knocked down 34.3 percent of his threes compared to not making any the season prior.
The uncertainty of Johnson’s future made it tough for May to round out his roster through the transfer portal. Nonetheless, he has enthusiastically supported his guys going through the process, hoping they receive information and advice that will put them on a path to success.
“We have one (open roster) spot — we’re just waiting and taking a wait-and-see approach with Morez and certainly anticipating him having a difficult decision because of how well he’s played in Chicago,” May told Andy Katz at the Combine. “But we’ll support him, and then if he does stay in, we’ll be prepared to pivot. We like our team regardless, but obviously, he raises our ceiling like (Yaxel Lendeborg) did last year.”
Johnson has been taking part in the NBA Combine this week, and the early reports are he has earned himself some money. He measured 6-foot-9 barefoot and 251 pounds, with a 7-foot-3 wingspan and 8-foot-11 standing reach. He had the highest maximum vertical (39 inches) among forwards and drilled 17-of-25 three-pointers during the star-shooting drill, a promising development after he took 35 threes this season at Michigan.
While it is a small sample size, Johnson has firmly placed himself in the Top-20 conversation, making it more likely he stays in the process.
In the latest round of NBA mock drafts, CBS Sports’ Adam Finkelstein, The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie and Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor all projected Johnson to go at No. 17 overall to the Oklahoma City Thunder. ESPN’s Jeremy Woo projected him at No. 20 to the San Antonio Spurs.
While May would love to have Johnson back, his skillset screams NBA player right now.
“Dusty (May) been very supportive,” Johnson told CBS Sports’ Isaac Trotter. “Not pressured me to come back at all. He wants me to attack this thing two feet in, until otherwise.”
Johnson is still weighing his future. However, with the week he has had at the NBA Combine and the fact he is creeping up draft boards, he should stay in the draft and take advantage of the opportunity. The deadline for players to withdraw from the draft and return to college is May 27 — if Johnson ultimately chooses to stay in the draft, he should hear his name called on June 23 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
The Cavaliers got a bit of a favorable road whistle.
With three seconds remaining in the fourth quarter of a tied game Wednesday in Game 5, Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell was blocked by Pistons stud defender Ausar Thompson as he attempted a game-winning shot.
As the ball trickled toward the sideline, Thompson gave chase with roughly one second remaining, only for Jarrett Allen to come crashing in, appearing to step on Thompson’s leg and sending him to the ground while the ball scooted away and the clock expired.
Many believe that a loose-ball foul should have been assessed on Allen, which would have led to free throws for Thompson that could have potentially sealed the game for Detroit.
Instead, the Cavaliers used their fourth-quarter momentum to down Detroit in overtime, 117-113, to take a 3-2 series lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
The Pistons were furious with the no-call.
Jarrett Allen appears to step on Ausar Thompson’s leg during a loose ball.
“[Jarrett Allen] fouled Ausar,” Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff told reporters postgame. “It’s clear. He trips him when he’s going for a loose ball. End of game situation, that’s tough.”
“That’s a foul,” said star Cade Cunningham. “It’s been a foul the whole game — wasn’t a foul at that time.”
“We, the Pistons, we know it was a foul,” fill-in starter Daniss Jenkins added. “But we don’t expect that.”
Tony Brothers viewed the contact as incidental.
Crew chief Tony Brothers defended the decision to not blow the whistle.
“During live play, both players were going for the ball and there was incidental contact with the legs with no player having possession of the ball,” Brothers told a pool reporter.
The NBA league office will review the play and issue a report on whether a foul should have been assessed.
The Cavaliers’ favorable whistle isn’t isolated to this play — they have shot 100 free throws in the last three games — while the Pistons have shot just 54.
Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors are heating up, with the Bucks reportedly open to offers from teams across the NBA.
Let's be real for a second. Nobody saw this coming when Giannis Antetokounmpo was an 18-year-old kid from Athens who could barely speak English and was playing for a Bucks team that won 15 games. The Greek Freak era in Milwaukee was supposed to be the kind of story that only happens in movies — small market, generational talent, one championship, genuine loyalty.
It was a great run, but it's seemingly over. The Milwaukee Bucks are officially open for business. According to Shams Charania, the franchise is fielding trade calls and offers for their two-time MVP heading into the NBA Draft combine, with ownership and the front office expecting a robust market.
The Milwaukee Bucks are open for business on trade calls and offers for two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo entering the NBA combine and over six weeks away from the draft, sources told ESPN.
How did they get here? A combination of bad luck and bad timing. Antetokounmpo is still an elite player — he averaged 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists while shooting 62.4% from the field this season — but he played only 36 games. That's the problem in a nutshell. The body isn't cooperating the way it used to, and for a franchise betting its entire future on one player staying healthy, that's a terrifying proposition. The Bucks also didn't help themselves in the lottery, holding the 10th overall pick when they hoped to move up significantly to change the calculus of a post-Giannis rebuild.
So now comes the hard part, for both sides. The Celtics, Lakers, Knicks, Timberwolves, and Cavaliers all reportedly pursued Antetokounmpo at the trade deadline, and how those teams finish the playoffs will play a major role in how aggressively they come back this summer. Giannis turns 32 in December and is owed $58.5 million next season with a $62.8 million player option for 2027-28, so whoever lands him isn't just getting a player; they're making a statement about their championship window and writing a very large check to back it up.
For Milwaukee, this is the moment that defines the next decade. Get this trade right, and they have a path back. Get it wrong, and they're the next cautionary tale about what happens when a franchise doesn't maximize its superstar before the window closes.
The Greek Freak era was worth every minute. What comes next is the real question. So, let's cut through the noise. Here are eight teams that could actually make a move and what a deal could look like.
New York Knicks
This one has been brewing for years, and the pressure only grows if New York falls short of a title this postseason. The fit makes sense on paper — Madison Square Garden, the market, the moment. The complication is the return. A package centered around Karl-Anthony Towns and a surplus of future pick swaps has been floated, but Milwaukee needs a foundational young piece, and it's fair to wonder whether Towns — at his age and salary — qualifies as that. The Knicks can get this done. Whether they can get it done at Milwaukee's asking price is another conversation.
Boston Celtics
The Celtics just lost in the first round to the 76ers, and Jaylen Brown's postseason comments opened a door that many people in Boston didn't expect to see opened this soon. Boston could conceivably package Brown, Derrick White, and future picks to make the money work, and that might be the offer Milwaukee has the hardest time turning down. The risk for Boston is real, though. Giannis turns 32 in December and carries a massive contract, and counting on a player that size to maintain peak production deep into his 30s is a gamble that could age poorly in a hurry.
Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers have made a habit of this. Superstar becomes available, Los Angeles finds a way to make the call. The Lakers were among the teams that pursued Antetokounmpo at the trade deadline, so the interest is established and the logic is straightforward, especially if LeBron James and the franchise go their separate ways this offseason and the front office needs a new centerpiece to sell. The sticking point is the return. A package built around Austin Reaves and draft picks is probably the ceiling of what Los Angeles can offer, and Milwaukee is going to want more than that. The Lakers have the brand; whether they have the assets is a different question entirely.
San Antonio Spurs
This is the one that nobody wants to say out loud because it sounds too good to be true. Giannis and Victor Wembanyama in the same frontcourt. The comparison to Tim Duncan and David Robinson has already been made, and it's not a stretch — only this time with modern spacing and athleticism that those teams could never have dreamed of. The vision is right there. The question is whether San Antonio is actually willing to blow up a young core that is ahead of schedule to get it done. Any realistic deal almost certainly involves Stephon Castle or Dylan Harper, and that's a steep price to pay for a player on the wrong side of 31 with a massive contract. But the fit is clean, the timeline is decent, and the ceiling with Wembanyama alongside him is genuinely terrifying. If San Antonio pulls the trigger on this one, the rest of the league should be very, very nervous.
Patrick McDermott / Getty Images
Golden State Warriors
This one is about Stephen Curry's closing chapter, and everybody knows it. Golden State was among the teams linked to Antetokounmpo as a potential suitor, and the vision is obvious — pair the greatest shooter of all time with a two-time MVP for one last run at a title. It's a beautiful story. The problem is Milwaukee isn't in the business of beautiful stories right now. They want youth and picks, and the Warriors are running low on both. Unless Golden State gets creative in ways that aren't currently obvious, this one feels more like a dream scenario than a realistic deal.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland is still alive in the playoffs, so this one is TBD, but if the Cavaliers go out in an ugly fashion, expect personnel changes to follow. Evan Mobley is the name that matters here. He's exactly the type of young, switchable, two-way big that Milwaukee would want coming back in a deal, and pairing him with a Giannis asking price of picks makes Cleveland one of the more realistic suitors in this field. Keep an eye on how their postseason ends.
Houston Rockets
Houston made a big swing last offseason for Kevin Durant, and it didn't land the way they hoped. If they decide to make another move, they have genuine foundational pieces to offer — Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., and Amen Thompson are all names that should be appealing to a Bucks front office that wants youth coming back. The question is whether Houston wants to blow up a young core that hasn't fully matured yet for a 32-year-old on a massive deal. Bold move. Not impossible.
Minnesota Timberwolves
An Antetokounmpo-Anthony Edwards pairing is the kind of thing that keeps opposing coaches up at night. Minnesota reportedly pursued Giannis at the trade deadline, and if they can't get past the Western Conference semifinals, expect them to come back harder this summer. They have movable contracts in Jaden McDaniels, Julius Randle, and Rudy Gobert to construct a package, and Edwards as the centerpiece of a new era alongside Giannis is a compelling vision. The fit is there. Now it's just about whether the assets are enough to get Milwaukee to say yes.
Memphis Grizzlies power forward Brandon Clarke was found dead at a residence in the San Fernando Valley on May 11, and authorities are investigating the circumstances of his death.
Clarke was 29 and was in his seventh season in the NBA.
After starring at Gonzaga, Clarke was drafted by the Oklahoma City Thunder with the 21st pick in the 2019 Draft. He was traded to Memphis and earned All-Rookie team honors in 2020. Clarke only played two games for Memphis in the 2025-26 season due to various injuries.
He averaged 10.2 points and 5.6 rebounds in 309 games in his career.
Here's the latest information about Clarke's passing:
Brandon Clarke cause of death
According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office, Clarke's body is ready for release, and the cause of death has been deferred.
Authorities have said that drug paraphernalia was found in the home where Clark was found and that "the incident is being investigated as a possible overdose."
What happened with Brandon Clarke's arrest?
Clarke was arrested on April 1, 2026, after a mile-long chase that reached speeds over 100 miles per hour in Arkansas.
Clarke was found with over 230 grams of kratom, per an arrest affidavit obtained by The Memphis Commercial Appeal. According to the Mayo Clinic, kratom has been deemed unsafe and ineffective as a supplement and a possible way to quit opioids.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has said that kratom is a drug of concern, and in Arkansas, it is classified as a Schedule 1 controlled substance.
The Knicks' offense has always been good. The club has finished in the Top 10 in offensive efficiency in the last four seasons. But, it’s always felt as if the team was leaving money on the table with a predictable offense that leaned far too heavily on isolations and one-on-one play from master shot creators Jalen Brunson and Karl-AnthonyTowns.
Though it largely worked and produced good results like two 50-win seasons and a Conference Finals appearance, New York's offense would often grind to a halt. After the Knicks fell behind 2-1 in the first round against the Atlanta Hawks, a switch flipped. With their backs against the wall, Mike Brown diversified his offense, putting the ball in Towns’ hands and allowing him to make plays for teammates moving off the ball.
The results have been astonishing. New York is 7-0 since the adjustment, blitzing the Hawks and sweeping the Philadelphia 76ers rather easily in four games. At the center of the Knicks’ run is Towns, who has re-invented his game. The 7-footer is averaging 8.3 assists per 36 minutes in the postseason. That’s a stark difference from last year’s playoffs, when the big man posted just 1.4 dimes per 36 minutes through New York’s run to the ECF.
Even in the regular season, Towns was never this consistently pass-happy, averaging 3.5 assists per 36 minutes in 75 games. During this stretch, Towns has been able to give the Knicks offense some verve and a little more diversity.
It has also taken pressure off Brunson. Defenses can’t just scheme to stop the Knicks' point guard in isolation or in the pick-and-roll. They now have to worry about the All-Star point guard coming off a pindown screen, or setting a flex screen for another teammate like he’s done for OG Anunoby countless times in both the Hawks and 76ers series.
That’s all able to happen because of Towns. The All-Star is one of the best shooting big men in NBA history. When he has the ball at the top of the key, his defender has to be alert and can’t sag back into the paint. In many of New York’s lineups, there’s enough perimeter shooting to leave the paint open. It’s giving Towns great opportunities to feed his teammates.
And New York’s offense is thriving. In the last seven games, the Knicks have the top offense of all playoff teams, scoring 130.5 points per 100 possessions according to NBA Stats.
Offensively involved
Towns’ scoring and field goal attempts are down throughout the playoffs. Some of that can be attributed to his recent foul woes in the second round, as well as the fact that he has missed several fourth quarters due to blowouts becoming a regular occurrence in a Knicks game.
But it also doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of the Knicks' offense, because Towns has the ball in his hands on a regular basis. During the regular season, Towns averaged 1.15 front-court touches per minute, per NBA Stats. That number has risen to 1.29 in the playoffs and 1.42 in the seven-game win streak.
Towns' teammates are filling in the gaps. Before he went down with a hamstring injury, Anunoby was having the best moments of his career, averaging 21.4 points. After a slow start to the postseason, Mikal Bridgeshas risen like a phoenix from the ashes. Reserves Miles McBride and Landry Shamet have also shown up with big offensive nights.
Towns has always had potential as a passer. He averaged at least three assists a night the last eight seasons. But it never seemed like a realistic possibility that he could become this kind of playmaker.
Turnovers were one of the central issues with putting the ball in Towns' hands so often. He had a penchant for hooking the arm of his defender on drives, which led to a variety of offensive foul calls earlier this season. He also would wildly barrel into defenders over and over again. But now, Towns has been much more under control, both on drives and on passes.
Quietly, the Knicks' big man has also become much more stout on the defensive end. This well-rounded version of Towns has helped elevate the Knicks to a team with real championship hopes. His play on both ends has given New York a chance in any playoff series.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 10: Grayson Allen #8 of the Phoenix Suns reacts after hitting a three-point shot against the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half of the NBA game at Mortgage Matchup Center on November 10, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. Allen broke the Phoenix Suns' franchise record for most three-pointers made in a single game with 10. 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
Welcome to our Phoenix Suns Season in Review series, where we revisit every player who suited up during the 2025–26 campaign through the lens of expectation, reality, and what it ultimately meant.
Player Snapshot
Position: SG/SF
Age: 30
2026-27 Contract Status: $18.1 million
SunsRank (Preseason): 5
SunsRank (Postseason): 6
*SunsRank is based on Bright Side writers’ ranking.
Season in One Sentence
Allen missed 32 games, and even with a down year relative to three-point shooting, he showcased why he is one of the best value contracts on the team as he posted career highs in scoring and assists.
By the Numbers
GP
MIN
PPG
RPG
APG
STL
FG%
3PT%
FT%
OFFRTG
DEFRTG
+/- (TOTAL)
51
28.8
16.5
3.0
3.8
1.4
40.3%
34.9%
85.7%
113.9
113.8
+18
The Expectation
The expectation was that Grayson Allen would continue filling his role as a sniper off the bench. It felt like a natural continuation from the previous season. Two years ago, he was forced into a much larger starting role than expected because of the constant injuries the Phoenix Suns dealt with.
With the additions of Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green, the hope was that Allen could become the steadying presence for the second unit.
The Reality
Unfortunately, it was an injury-plagued season for Grayson Allen. He appeared in 51 games, his fewest since the 2020-21 season, when he played 50 games with the Memphis Grizzlies. The rhythm never fully materialized, and you could see that reflected in the shooting numbers. His 34.9% from three was the lowest mark since his rookie season back in 2018-19.
Even when he was available, he looked limited physically and often had to gut his way through games. I’ll always respect the toughness. It was unfortunate that the production never consistently followed, especially because so much of it felt outside of his control.
What It Means
Grayson Allen is still on a relatively friendly contract heading into next season at $18.1 million (11% of the cap), with a player option for $19.4 million the following year. Even so, his 2025-26 season leaves you cautious as you start wondering whether he’s already past his prime and if he’s truly worth that number on a roster where every contract matters.
Maybe this was simply an off year. Maybe his leg never fully cooperated because of the physical nature of his play. At the same time, he’ll be 31 years old next season, and history tells you regression usually starts showing up around this stage.
So yes, the injury-plagued season creates some doubt relative to his future viability as a productive asset. There’s also a real level of respect that exists for him. He’s probably one of the more underrated players on the roster. A lunch pail guy. Shows up, does his job, and most nights does it well. He’s not spectacular or flashy, but (when healthy) he is reliable.
That’s what makes evaluating his season interesting. You can acknowledge the disappointment tied to the injuries and still appreciate the value he’s brought to the organization as you start contemplating what comes next.
Side note: isn’t it kind of nutty that Grayson is the second-longest tenured member of the Phoenix Suns?
Grayson Allen has played 190 games with the Suns, which ties him with Casey Jacobsen for 80th in franchise history pic.twitter.com/fFo5yMGmdT
Early in the season, when the Phoenix Suns were rolling and Grayson Allen was a big reason why, he delivered the best performance of his professional career. Against the New Orleans Pelicans, Allen exploded for 42 points, shooting 12-of-17 from the field and 10-of-15 from three, setting the franchise record for most made threes in a single game.
Grade: A-
How do you grade Grayson Allen? Do you grade him against the expectations of what the season could have been, or do you focus strictly on what he produced when he was actually on the floor?
I think the Phoenix Suns win more games if Allen stays healthy, and honestly, that’s part of why I believe this organization is going to run it back next season. Across the roster, they dealt with more injuries than they were comfortable with. Allen missing 31 games mattered.
That said, when he played, he was productive. He averaged a career-high 16.5 points per game, which becomes even more impressive when you factor in that it was a down shooting year from three-point range relative to his standards. He also posted a career best 3.8 assists per night. His impact, combined with his willingness to fill whatever role the Suns needed him to fill (27 starts), is what makes him so valuable. It’s what other fanbases, in general, do not understand.
He gets an A-minus from me because I’m grading the player we saw on the court, not the expectations that injuries prevented him from fully reaching.
DALLAS, TEXAS - APRIL 03: Paolo Banchero #5 of the Orlando Magic defends against a shot by Brandon Williams #10 of the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on April 03, 2026 in Dallas, 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 Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Williams earned his spot in Dallas after battling his way professionally, starting his career with 24 games with the Portland Trailblazers way back in the 2021-22 season. Following a short stint with the Mavericks in the 2023-24 season for 17 games, and as a two-way player for the 2024-25 season, Brandon Williams signed a contract for the 2025-26 season, where he once again became an alarmingly vital player for the watchability of the team.
Season in Review
Williams played a career high in 2025-26, playing 66 games and starting 15 of them. Additional opportunities this season allowed Williams to post a career high in points per game and tie his previous high in assists per game (he got a lot of minutes and chances during the aforementioned time with the Blazers). His role with Dallas this year steadily increased as the team dealt with a myriad of issues, ranging from playstyle intentions coming up against actual defense, to injuries, and eventually, the trade deadline and reshaping of the team towards the future.
Throughout the year, Williams provided a necessary scoring spark; when Williams was able to get to the basket, Dallas looked like a team capable of scoring easily. When teams read the scouting report and allowed him to shoot long jumpers, the Mavericks were an uglier team to watch.
One area where Williams excelled was getting to the line. In just 22 minutes per game, he got to the line over four and a half times. His free-throw rate was .493, meaning he nearly took one free-throw attempt for every two field goals taken. This rate was easily the best on the team for players who regularly handled the ball. Williams’s ability and willingness to drive to the basket were extremely valuable to a team that lacked consistent offensive punch.
Best Game
Picking the best performance for Williams is difficult; he played well this season and oftentimes his numbers look similar across the board. Against the Bucks in a two-point loss, Williams posted 19 points, six rebounds, and three assists while getting to the line 11 times. His best assist game of the season came against the Nets, where the game plan must have been for him to get others involved; he had 10 assists and zero attempts at the charity stripe.
But, I’m going to choose his performance against the Golden State Warriors in a win in late January. Dallas fans were treated to the full Williams experience. In 27 minutes, he scored 19 points efficiently, seven of 10 from the field and five of six from the line, to go along with five rebounds and four assists. He missed both his three-point attempts but was a monster inside the arc, scoring seven of eight times.
At this point in the offseason, Dallas fans might have wanted him to rest that game when looking back, but that contest showed his value off the bench in a limited but specific role.
Contract Status
Williams is going to be a free agent when the league year starts anew in July. He just finished a one year deal worth a shade under $2.2 million.
Looking ahead
It feels both mean and reasonable to say that Brandon Williams may have played his last game as a Dallas Maverick. He’s both undersized and really cannot shoot from three and his passing comes and goes, though I think any criticisms I have there may be shaded by me not understanding his role night to night.
The Mavericks need ball handlers capable of shooting, driving, and passing. This seems obvious, but when pulling back, this year Williams could drive and pass, Nembhard could pass, but the other two were iffy, which left Cooper Flagg and Naji to initiate more than makes sense for 82 games.
I’ve valued Williams time in Dallas, but I also believe it’s come to a close.
Grade: B+
One has to respect Williams for doing what was asked of him. His path to the NBA has required so much patience and last year and this year I think he did a very good job showing that he is capable of being a fringe player. But his lack of shooting and size hurts him over the long run, and expecting him to be more than what he is isn’t realistic. But I’ll remember his time fondly, and for his performance in the face of very stacked odds, a grade of B+ seems fair.
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 11: Morez Johnson Jr. participates in the shuttle run drill during the 2026 NBA Draft Combine on May 11, 2026 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. 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 Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
CHICAGO — The 2026 NBA Draft Combine has the ability to move players up and down the board to a meaningful degree. The top four already feels locked in with Cameron Boozer, A.J. Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, and Caleb Wilson leading a strong group at the top of the class, but a good day of measurements or a bad day of athletic testing could impact how the rest of the selections play out on draft day.
Check out our instant mock draft for mini scouting reports on every projected first round pick. There are already some players helping their stock after the opening days of the combine. There are also a few who came in a bit smaller or slower than expected. Let’s dive into the biggest winners and losers from the 2026 NBA Draft combine.
Winner: Morez Johnson Jr.
Johnson transferred from Illinois to Michigan for his sophomore year, and turned into a key cog in a supersized front court that led the Wolverines to the national championship. College teammates Yaxel Lendeborg (read our feature on his journey) and Aday Mara (read our scouting report) will likely go before him in the first-round, but don’t sleep on Johnson either as a borderline lottery pick. His ability to toggle between the four and the five and add toughness, rebounding, and interior finishing to any frontcourt makes him appealing outside of the top-10.
Johnson measured at 6’9, 250.6 pounds, with a 7’3.5 wingspan, and an 8’11 standing reach. Tawny Park Metrics has the numbers on how his measurements and athletic testing compares to power forwards historically:
No one needed to see the numbers to know Johnson was big and strong — it was evident just by watching him play. He was able to establish deep post position all year, which helped him finish with 67.6 percent true shooting, a top-15 mark in America. Johnson is also one of the best and most versatile defenders in this class, showing the ability to wall up inside despite being a couple inches short for a center, while also having quick feet on the perimeter and the ability to switch assignments.
This is a big dude moving really well:
Morez Johnson Jr. was MOVIN' in the pro-lane drill!
I had Johnson going No. 20 to the Spurs in my instant mock after the lottery, and it already feels too low. Charlotte at No. 14 and Chicago at No. 15 would both make a lot of sense.
Loser: Keaton Wagler
Wagler is more than just a great story. After entering Illinois as the No. 150 recruit in the freshman class, the 6’6 guard blossomed into a lottery pick while leading Illinois to the Final Four for the first time since 2005. Wagler’s 46-point explosion at Purdue might be the single best game any prospect in this draft class had all year. His intersection of positional size, pull-up shooting, and turnover avoidance while running the offense efficiently is going to make him a very high pick in this draft. We had Wagler going No. 5 to the Clippers in our instant mock.
There wasn’t much information on Wagler outside of the tape because he flew so far under the radar before this year. His combine measurements didn’t do him any favors. The Illini guard posted an underwhelming 6’6.25 wingspan measurement, which offsets some of the advantage he gets from his height. Wagler was already considered a poor athlete after finishing the season with zero dunks. A lack of length and lack of explosiveness is a bad combo.
Illinois' Keaton Wagler measured 6'5 barefoot and 188 pounds at the NBA Draft Combine, with a 6'6.25 wingspan and 8'4 standing reach.
First measurements we've seen for Wagler. Good size for a PG, but is functionally a little smaller given the wingspan, frame, and reach. pic.twitter.com/JodenJUY9L
I don’t see Wagler as a top-5 pick anymore after the combine. Now, he could be available for the Nets at No. 6, the Hawks at No. 8, the Mavericks at No. 9, or the Bucks at No. 10.
Winner: Cam Boozer
Boozer is the best player in the draft, and he should be the No. 1 overall pick. It feels like he moved closer to that being the reality during the combine, where he measured well and surpassed expectations with his athletic testing.
Boozer checked in at 6’8.25 barefoot with a 7’1.5 wingspan and 253 pound frame. That’s great size for a power forward, and even lets him play a little bit of small ball center.
Duke's Cam Boozer measured 6'8.25 barefoot and 253 pounds at the NBA Draft Combine, with a 7'1.5 wingspan and 9'0 standing reach.
Solid numbers across the board, including a 9'0 reach that gives him viability as a small-ball 5. pic.twitter.com/1ZSgGB7wvb
The knock on Boozer is his athleticism, but that shouldn’t be used as a blanket statement. Yes, Boozer struggles to contain faster guards on the perimeter at times, and he has trouble finishing over length inside. He still has good lateral quickness, and he proved it during testing. His lane agility score was better than Darryn Peterson and Caleb Wilson, and tied with A.J. Dybantsa.
He’s a really smooth mover who never looks awkward changing directions.
I still think Boozer goes No. 3 to the Grizzlies. Memphis would be thrilled with that outcome, I’m sure. He should go even higher than that.
Winner: Aday Mara
Everyone knew Mara was gigantic, but seeing these official numbers is still startling.
Michigan's Aday Mara measured 7'3 barefoot and 260 pounds at the NBA Draft Combine, with a 7'6 wingspan and 9'9 standing reach.
Absolutely absurd measurements. Tied with Mark Williams for the second-longest standing reach in Combine history, behind only Tacko Fall. pic.twitter.com/FvZ41Kv1jo
I spoke to Mara throughout Michigan’s March Madness run with a credential to the Big Ten Tournament, Sweet 16, and Final Four. He was wonderful in interviews with the media, and I’m sure he’s going to impress teams in that area, too. There are only so many people in the world with Mara’s length. Zach Edey and Donovan Clingan have both looked good when healthy in the NBA, and their success should only help Mara’s case.
I think Mara has a good chance to go No. 5 overall now to the Los Angeles Clippers. If not, he should be a legit option for the Atlanta Hawks at No. 8.
Loser: Kingston Flemings
Flemings was spectacular this year at Houston as a freshman point guard who combined nasty driving ability with knockdown mid-range shooting off the dribble, terrific live-dribble passing, and defensive playmaking to establish himself as a likely top-10 pick. I’ve been leaning towards having Flemings at No. 5 overall on my board, but it’s a harder case to make now that he measured so small at the combine.
Flemings measured at 6’2.5 barefoot with a 6’3.5 wingspan. That’s pretty tiny for an NBA point guard, and honestly it makes his production this year even more impressive. Flemings is smart and tough and plays with a high motor, and he’s also super athletic. He crushed the athletic testing at the combine.
Kingston Flemings today so far
#1 at combine: 19-25 3PT star drill 2nd fastest shuttle run Top 5 40.5 max vert Top 5 Pro Lane Agility time Top 5 Sprint time 15-25 spot-up 3s
Flemings is going to be a good NBA guard for a long time, I’m confident in that. I just don’t know if a top-5 pick can really be that small. He’s not a true loser of the combine because his testing was so good, but he did come in smaller than expected.
I’m also giving Flemings the nicest guy award for the 2026 draft class. I loved his film breakdown with Ben Pfeifer. Someone is going to get a leader and a two-way guard in the lottery. He should be an option for the Nets at No. 6, the Kings at No. 7, and the Hawks at No. 8, but his poor measurements could lower his floor on draft day if those teams decide to go in another direction.
Winner: Chris Cenac Jr.
Cenac has some of the best tools in the draft. Houston’s freshman big man measured 6’10.25 barefoot with a 7’5 wingspan, a 9’0.5 standing reach, and a 240-pound frame. He also proved he can jump out of the gym by crushing the vertical leap testing:
Houston's Chris Cenac measured 6'10.25 barefoot and 240 pounds at the NBA Draft Combine, with a 7'5 wingspan and 9'0.5 standing reach.
What makes Cenac so intriguing is that he can actually play on the perimeter offensively with tools like this. He made 30-of-90 three-pointers this year, and a solid 43.3 percent of his non-rim two-pointers. Cenac has a fluid stroke and a high release that’s almost impossible to contest. He’s one of the best stretch five options in this class, because he’s also great on the glass with a 26.1 percent defensive rebounding rate and a 10.1 offensive rebounding rate.
Cenac is still pretty raw as a player, but it’s encouraging that he chose to commit to Kelvin Sampson and Houston over a less demanding program. I asked him if he ever regretted committing to the Cougars at the draft combine, and he said “every other day” before acknowledging that he knew what he signed up for.
Chris Cenac committing to Houston is a green flag for me. Was there a time when he regretted playing for such a demanding program?
Steinbach was listed at 230 pounds during his freshman season at Washington, which felt pretty light for a player who will probably spend half of his time playing center in the NBA. His length was also a question. Steinbach measured very well at the combine, weighing in at 248 pounds while being just below the average wingspan for an NBA center.
Washington's Hannes Steinbach measured 6'10.25 barefoot and 248 pounds at the NBA Draft Combine, with a 7'2.25 wingspan and 9'0 standing reach.
Steinbach has grown nearly an inch and added 19 pounds over the past two years. Strong measurements across the board. pic.twitter.com/6DlIiuRI7B
Steinbach’s offensive rebounding is one of the best individual skills in this draft class. He has great hands and catches everything thrown at him, which produces some awesome finishes cutting to the basket or filling the lane in transition. He showed a little promise with his jump shot this year, but he’ll need to prove he has NBA range. Who he guards has also been an open debate.
I feel better about Steinbach as a lottery prospect after the way he measured. He’s still a 4.5 to me positionally, but that’s just fine with two big lineups back in vogue around the league. I had Steinbach at No. 17 to the Thunder in my instant mock, and he might not last that long.
Winner: Cam Carr
It was surprising to see Carr was playing in the combine scrimmages, because he’s considered a possible top-20 pick. Teams wanted him to look like the best player on the floor in this setting, and that’s exactly what happened. The Baylor wing went nuclear in the second scrimmage of the day on Wednesday, exploding for 30 points on 6-of-12 shooting from three.
Baylor's Cameron Carr went OFF in the NBA draft combine scrimmage:
It’s no surprise that Gillespie also shined in the scrimmages. The Tennessee point guard clearly won his matchup against Vanderbilt’s Tyler Tanner, finishing with 28 points, five assists, and three steals on 10-of-17 shooting, including five made three-pointers.
Gillespie’s measurements were small, as expected. He’s a hair under 6-foot with a 6’4 wingspan. Don’t let that fool you. It feels like there’s a senior guard who gets drafted in the second round and beats expectations every year, and Gillespie is an obvious pick to fit that mold this year.
Gillespie shoots a ton of threes (more than 14 per 100 possessions this season), he’s a very good passer who avoids turnovers, and he’s capable defensively despite his lack of size. He’s going to make some team very happy in the mid second round.
I didn’t have Peat as a first-rounder in my instant mock. He probably isn’t making it in the next update either after his combine performance.
Loser: Tyler Tanner
Tanner was always going to measure really small, and he did at 5’10.75 barefoot with a 6’4.25 wingspan. His weight was even more concerning. Tanner only checked in at 166.8 pounds, which is going to contribute to skepticism about how he’ll translate to the NBA.
Tanner decided to play in the combine scrimmage to help his stock, but he didn’t dominate like he hoped. His team got blown out and he was out-played by the other small guard from a Tennessee university in Gillespie. He finished with 13 points and five assists on 4-of-11 shooting from the flor with two steals and two turnovers.
Tanner is advanced analytics darling, but you only need to turn on the tape to see how good he is. He was legitimately one of the best players in college basketball this year as a sophomore, and a mediocre combine performance isn’t going to change that.
I’m a big Tanner fan, but it’s hard to watch the playoffs and think he can survive being targeting defensively. He’s also not a great shot-creator or a great shooter. He’s damn good at basketball, and I think he’ll make it work eventually, but I wouldn’t be surprised if NBA scouts aren’t super high on him after this week.
CLEVELAND, OH - MAY 3: Scottie Barnes #4 of the Toronto Raptors stands for the National Anthem before the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers during Round One Game Seven of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 3, 2026 at Rocket Arena 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Raptors were a team of questions this year, and while it might be hard to answer every single one, it’s a good bet that a right answer might start and end with Scottie Barnes. Who was the team’s best player? Scottie Barnes. Who anchored them defensively? Scottie Barnes. Who stepped up when things looked ugly? Scottie Barnes. Who’s an NBA All-Star? Scottie Barnes. And who looks like the Raptors’ future? Well, that would be Scott Wayne Barnes Jr.
Scottie has emerged as a bona-fide star, as a playoff riser; a figure who the team can rally behind, and who brings a combination of size, defense, and playmaking that has been exceedingly rare throughout the history of the NBA. The man delivered two playoff triple doubles of points and assists, while providing 6 stocks in a do-or-die game 6. Scottie was one of the few reasons the Raptors were able to hold the line against star-stacked Cleveland this postseason, and with that level of production on display, one can only imagine Barnes’ next leap could come sooner than later.
Barnes’ scoring dipped only marginally, with no real change to his assist or rebounding numbers, though he was able to grab an extra half a block every game. Scottie became the clear number-two scoring option behind Brandon Ingram for most of the season, and in exchange, has become hailed as one of the league’s premier two-way players, gaining increased media attention after his playoff heroics.
Apr 26, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes (4) celebrates with fans after a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images | Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Some defining moments stand out for Barnes this year. His naming to the All-Star team, snubbing for DPOY finalist, and his tying of the Raptors single game rebounding record with 25 boards, to name a few. But nothing stood out to me more than the run with Immanuel Quickley out, where Scottie Barnes slotted in as the Raptors’ point guard. The Raptors had six straight games of Scottie Barnes double digit assists in March, winning half and losing the others. The games dropped were against the LA Clippers and the Detroit Pistons (one led by superstar Kawhi Leonard and the other the top team in the east), alongside an admittedly embarrassing fumbling of the Sacramento Kings. Much has been said about how unreliable “March Basketball”, is for gauging the skills of a player, with frequently improbable success stories emerging late in the season before a final playoff push. These concerns should be belied by the fact that Scottie averaged 8.5 assists in the first round of the playoffs while averaging 24 points and nearly three stocks. Those are star numbers.
The SB-PG experiment was, in my mind, long overdue. There exists the age-old adage, that when a man shows you who he is, to believe him. Well, Barnes still wears his heart on his sleeve. In his Instagram bio, the first thing you see is “Toronto Raptors.” The thing after that? “6’9 PG.”
There exists a great deal of discourse about the value of using facilitating wings to play point guard, and whether or not there is a place for small guards in the NBA anymore. I say, if they stuck Magic Johnson at power forward, the Showtime Lakers would have been worse off for it, and the Toronto Raptors could be making a mistake of comparable magnitude. Scottie lacks certain things often demanded of modern day point guards, namely, that truly automatic three-point shot, but his basketball IQ and gravity are building blocks of a team’s quarterback that Scottie has in spades.
Darko, asked if this is the version of Barnes he envisioned: “No. I expect more from Scottie. Scottie is going to bring more. Scottie is 60% of what he’s going to be in 3-4 years. Scottie is going to be one of the best players in the league. He’s already one of the best players”
Darko Rajaković’s branding of Barnes as someone able to make the leap to true superstar status might seem like jumping the gun to some. But this season, Scottie has put on display more than potential; he’s delivered results, consistency, and leadership, commodities that can bring the Raptors back to their apex sooner than anyone might have ever believed.
There was love. There was a championship. There were champagne-soaked locker rooms and million-dollar memories. There were moments when it all felt like a movie, like Hollywood had somehow written an award-winning basketball script and cast the perfect leading man.
And now?
LeBron James might return for a 24th NBA season, but it might not be with the Lakers. Getty Images
Now it feels like that dramatic scene from “Marriage Story.” Two exhausted people in a room together fighting to preserve something that has quietly expired.
Not because they hate each other. Not because the relationship failed completely. But because sometimes relationships survive past their expiration date when both sides are terrified of what comes next.
LeBron may have admitted as much after the Lakers were swept out of the Western Conference semifinals by the reigning champion Thunder on Monday.
“I don’t know what the future holds for me,” he said, saying the scary part out loud.
The Lakers already know what their future looks like.
It looks like Luka Doncic.
Luka Doncic missed the playoffs with an injury. Getty Images
Doncic is 27 years old and entering the prime of his career. LeBron is 41 years old and entering the final chapter of the greatest career in NBA history. Those two timelines are not synchronized anymore. One clock is beginning. The other is ticking loudly in the background like a smoke detector with a dying battery.
The Lakers could have built around Doncic last year, but LeBron handcuffed them by opting into the final year of his contract with a salary of nearly $53 million.
The 2025-26 season felt like the Lakers had already moved on emotionally and were dating someone new, but they still hadn’t told their ex-wife to move out of the house.
It’s true that after Doncic went down with a hamstring injury April 2, LeBron led the team to a first-round upset over the Rockets. We appreciate that. But in the end, the outcome was still the same: a sweep and another season without a championship.
Both parties will come up with reasons to stay together.
The team went 16-2 when fully healthy and when LeBron selflessly became the third option. They could use that as a reason to stay together and “run it back.”
LeBron will point to the roots his family has in LA. That his son, Bronny, is still with the Lakers’ organization. He’s an hour plane ride from watching his other son, Bryce, play college basketball at the University of Arizona. His daughter, Zhuri, plays on a volleyball team here. His wife, Savannah, co-hosts a podcast here. The infrastructure of LeBron’s empire all resides in LA.
But divorce court is not about remembering the honeymoon.
The LeBron-Luka duo helped propel the Lakers to a postseason appearance. Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
It’s about accepting reality.
And the reality is that the Lakers have spent years reshaping themselves around LeBron. They’ve built rosters around his preferences, worked with his moods and made decisions based on his basketball worldview. They constantly tried to satisfy the demands of their superstar.
Sometimes it worked brilliantly like the trade for Anthony Davis and the 2020 championship in the bubble.
Sometimes it blew up in their faces like a scene from the “War of the Roses.” Remember the Russell Westbrook trade?
That’s the hidden cost of LeBron.
He’s not just a player. He’s an entire ecosystem.
And for eight years, the Lakers were married to him.
But now it’s time to move on with someone else.
It’s time to build around Doncic.
With over $100 million in salary coming off the books this summer, it’s time for the Lakers to have a clean slate and a fresh start.
They need to find athletic rim protectors and lob threats to pair with Doncic on the pick and roll. Surround him with long wing defenders and knockdown shooters who can spread the floor.
James led the Lakers to their 17th championship banner. AP
“Any team, including ours, would love to have LeBron James on their roster,” Lakers GM Rob Pelinka said during a season-ending news conference Tuesday. His comments were polite, respectful and diplomatic.
But public statements during divorces are always polite before the lawyers arrive.
Privately, they should thank him for the last eight years, for banner No. 17, and let him know that it’s not beneficial to the team for him to return. That you can’t pass the torch to Doncic while LeBron is still holding it. That even if LeBron signed a veteran minimum contract, Doncic and the franchise would still live in his shadow.
The Lakers and LeBron gave each other eight unforgettable years. A championship. Global relevance. And historic moments that will live on forever.
But all great relationships eventually arrive at the same terrifying question:
Are we staying together because we still belong together?
Or because we’re afraid to say goodbye?
And for the first time since LeBron arrived in the summer of 2018, the answer feels painfully obvious.
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The Lakers would be lucky to re-sign LeBron James.
Yes, he’s turning 42 next season. Yes, the Lakers’ focus needs to be building around Luka Doncic. And yes, there are some tricky politics at play.
But the bottom line is James is still damn good.
The Lakers’ LeBron James had better stats than reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the second-round playoff series. Getty Images
He was the best player on the court in the Lakers’ first-round playoff series against the Rockets. In the second round, he had better stats than reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Just let that sink in for a moment.
This season, James proved he could be a star or a role player. He’s willing to carry the team or be its third option. He’s able to set aside his ego.
It’s weird that so many people are up in arms about the prospect of James returning to the Lakers. He’s about to be an unrestricted free agent. And after eight seasons with the purple and gold, they’d be lucky to have him for a ninth.
When James came to the Lakers in 2018, they had fallen off the map, missing the playoffs six straight years. James resuscitated the franchise, recruiting Anthony Davis in 2019 and then carrying the team to its first championship in 10 years in 2020.
This season, James proved he could be a star or a role player. NBAE via Getty Images
Five years later, the Lakers rocked the basketball world by acquiring Doncic in a stunning trade in February 2025. While playing alongside James, Doncic went from being out of shape to entering training camp this season in arguably the best physical condition of his career.
Do you think that was a coincidence?
James shows up to arenas 5 ½ hours before games and three hours before practices to do activation exercises and rehab drills. If arguably the greatest player of all time was doing that at age 41, you think the 27-year-old Doncic didn’t feel a bit of pressure to get his act together?
James’ influence on the Lakers extends far and wide.
There are the obvious things he does to impact winning, such as the dunks, powerful drives and efficient jumpers. But there’s so much more happening behind the scenes.
James is the ultimate professional. He’s a winner, having carried 10 teams to the Finals, winning four championships. His basketball IQ is unparalleled.
He’s a finely tuned weapon who’s a freight train on the court and a wealth of knowledge off it. He’s an immeasurable asset.
But you’re still not convinced?
Let’s play the stats game.
When James embraced being the team’s third option in March, the Lakers went on a 15-2 run. Their offense was virtually unstoppable. Doncic was averaging 37.5 points a game. Austin Reaves was the second option. And James acted as the ultimate Swiss Army Knife, averaging 18.5 points on 56.2% shooting, 6.9 rebounds, seven assists and 1.3 steals.
It’s unprecedented that a player of James’ caliber who could’ve been the first option on many teams was willing to take a backseat. It’s an unimaginable ask for an all-time great who still has his powers.
But James was willing to do it.
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Then after Doncic and Reaves suffered injuries April 2, James was asked to step back into the leading role. He seamlessly shapeshifted with the ease of turning on a faucet.
No one thought the Lakers had a chance in their first-round series against the Rockets without their two leading scorers, who averaged a combined 60 points a game. James led LA to a 3-0 series lead.
In Game 1, he looked like Magic Johnson, finishing with a game-high 13 assists to go along with 19 points and eight rebounds. In Game 2, he led all scorers with 28 points. In Game 3, he made a game-tying 3-pointer with 13.6 seconds left that sent the contest into overtime, finishing with 29 points and 13 rebounds.
James averaged 23 points, four rebounds and close to seven assists against the Thunder. Getty Images
In the Lakers’ second-round series against the Thunder, James outplayed Gilgeous-Alexander, who is likely going to win his second straight MVP Award this month.
James averaged 23 points on 52% shooting, four rebounds and 6.7 assists, while Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 21 points on 46% shooting, 2.7 rebounds and 5.7 assists.
What James is doing is incredible. We all know that. So why all the hate?
Silly me. That’s practically a rhetorical question. The act of criticizing James has become a competitive sport in and of itself since he entered the league at age 18.
Two decades later, he’s not as fast and he can’t jump as high. But he can compensate for those deficiencies with one of the greatest basketball minds the sport has seen and one of its most in-shape physiques.
The Lakers should bend over backward to convince James to rejoin the team. If he doesn’t retire, he’d have to take a significant salary cut wherever he plays. No team is going to pay him the $52.6 million he earned this season.
But if James is willing to accept a big pay cut, the Lakers should pull all the stops to convince him to return.
James is still great.
It wouldn’t be surprising if in 10 years, Doncic calls him one of the best teammates he ever had. Simply put, James is a winner.
The Lakers would be lucky to have him on their roster next season.
Harper has the best fourth quarter field goal percentage in these playoffs. Better than the legendary LeBron James, better than Timberwolves former NBA Sixth Man Naz Reid, even better than his teammate Victor Wembanyama.
Dylan Harper is the youngest guard ever to record multiple double-doubles in the playoffs.
Harper also passed Derrick Rose as the youngest guard to ever record multiple double-doubles in the playoffs. His first came in game 3 of the first round of playoffs against the Portland Trail Blazers. On April 24, Harper tallied 27 points and 10 rebounds.
On Tuesday, Harper scored 12 points while pulling another 10 rebounds in the Spurs Game 5 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
He came out of the box ready and has never looked back. He constantly points out that he has the trust of the Spurs coaching staff and his teammates, which allows him to play freely and take the chances that have given us highlight after highlight.
While Harper is elevating the Spurs bench game, it should be noted that Devin Vassell currently has a +/- of 106, the highest plus-minus of any player through their first 10 playoff games since the stat began tracking in 1996.
Highest plus-minus through a player’s first 10 career Playoff games (since +/- started getting tracked in 1996-97):
+106 – Devin Vassell +102 – Markieff Morris +95 – Jared Dudley +91 – Kevin Love +90 – Steph Curry +88 – Max Strus +87 – Devin Booker
Meanwhile, it should be noted that Victor Wembanyama has 38 blocks in his first 9 NBA playoff games, ranking him 12th in Spurs franchise history in blocks. Let the math on that sink in.
📈 Victor is now 12th in Spurs history in playoff blocks through 9 games played (38). Next is Aldridge, who had 39 blks in 38 games.
🐺 Wemby's block count by player this series: McDaniels – 5 Shannon Jr. – 4 Randle, Gobert, Reid – 3 Edwards – 2 Hyland, Dosunmu – 1 pic.twitter.com/hbvVwzgh1v
I love the breakdown of his blocks for this series. 21 of his 38 blocks are against Minnesota and he’s spread the love- five blocks on McDaniels, four on Shannon, Jr., and three apiece on Gobert, Randle, and Reid. He’s even batter two away from superstar Anthony Edwards.
The Timberwolves looked gassed on Tuesday, but they will come out fighting for their lives on Friday. The Spurs will have to continue to share the accolades in order to close out on the road.
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Feb 28, 2026; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats center Malachi Moreno (24) celebrates from the bench during the second half against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images | Jordan Prather-Imagn Images
Good morning, BBN!
Kentucky Basketball center Malachi Moreno continues to weigh whether he will return to Kentucky for his sophomore season or remain in the 2026 NBA Draft.
When Moreno first announced he would test the NBA Draft waters, many believed the Georgetown, Kentucky native was almost certainly going to return to Lexington. Moreno reportedly even took a pay cut to return to Kentucky instead of entering the transfer portal.
However, after a breakout freshman season and increasing NBA interest, that decision is no longer viewed as a guarantee.
Coming into last season, Moreno was expected to be Kentucky’s third center behind Jayden Quaintance and Brandon Garrison. Instead, Quaintance played only four games all season, while Moreno stepped into a major role and became one of Kentucky’s biggest surprises.
Moreno averaged 7.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting 58.2% from the field. He played in all 36 games and started 30 while averaging 22.6 minutes per contest.
“This is my dream, to be in the NBA, so I am looking at it with my best foot forward,” Moreno tells Isaac Trotter of CBS Sports. “Obviously, I left the option on the table to go back to college if I could. Right now, all this leading into the decision is just how these next couple of weeks go. I know I have until the 27th to make that decision, and I will just have a lot of talks with my brother because he is probably going to be the most important factor in this decision, talks with my family, talks with my inner circle, and seeing what is the best decision for me at the time.”
Good stuff from Kentucky big man Malachi Moreno on what’s next for him in the decision-making process.
He chose not to participate in today’s scrimmage because his agent relayed that “he thought I was in a pretty good spot.” pic.twitter.com/xtTSdYBOsT
Moreno also explained why he decided not to participate in scrimmages at the NBA Draft Combine.
“After talks with my brother, like I said, my agent, they kind of just said that they thought that I was in a pretty good spot,” Moreno said. “I’ve got Pro Day coming up after this, after the week is over in L.A., and they want me to be full strength for that. Then I’ve got a couple more workouts after that that are getting set up.”
When discussing whether he would need first-round draft status to remain in the draft, Moreno said he is still evaluating everything.
“Obviously, I would love to be a first-round pick. That would be great,” Moreno said. “I’ve got two weeks before I’ve got to make any kind of decision, so I am kind of talking with my inner circle and seeing what the best decision is.”
Kentucky fans will be anxiously awaiting to hear if he’ll spend one more year in Lexington.
Tweet of the Day
Louisville must be operating with an absolutely absurd war chest this offseason. Keep hearing the Cards are a serious threat to land Momcilovic if he returns to college.
That would be a game-changer for Pat Kelsey. And pointedly, Mark Pope cannot let it happen. https://t.co/AJkTh7bC1U
From last summer all the way through February, the sports world begged the question: What will the Warriors do with Jonathan Kuminga?
Even former United States president and NBA superfan Barack Obama was curious.
So when Obama and Warriors coach Steve Kerr were in the same room for a dinner party last offseason in Aspen, Obama couldn’t help himself.
“Coach!” the ex-president said as he approached Kerr (h/t ESPN’s Wright Thompson). “What’s going to happen with Kuminga?”
It is unknown what Kerr’s response was, although it probably was along the lines of, “I don’t know,” the same response he likely repeated when asked about the situation over the next eight months.
Kuminga, whom the Warriors drafted No 7 overall in 2021, never found his footing in Kerr’s offense designed around Steph Curry. He showed flashes of his athleticism and potential, but the young high-flying wing couldn’t gel in Golden State system, especially after the team acquired Jimmy Butler.
After five seasons, the Warriors finally found a resolution to President Obama’s question.
With another important offseason ahead for the Warriors, and with Kerr’s return as coach after signing a new two-year contract, perhaps Obama will have some more questions for the coach.
To say that Steve Kerr went back and forth about his decision to continue coaching the Warriors would be an understatement.
In the days after Golden State’s 2025-26 NBA season ended with a play-in tournament loss to the Phoenix Suns, it became clear to some inside and outside the Warriors organization that Kerr likely would not return next season.
For very good reason.
Fast forward approximately three weeks, and Kerr officially is back on a new two-year contract.
So how close was he to calling it quits? ESPN’s Wright Thompson, who spent the last season with Kerr behind the scenes, published a detailed feature story about Kerr’s recent life on and off the court and shared an anecdote about the coach’s mindset before Golden State’s thrilling 126-121 win over the Los Angeles Clippers in the first of its two play-in games.
“Steve Kerr walked into the lobby of the Beverly Wilshire with a secret,” Thompson wrote. “Win or lose, he’d decided to retire as head coach of the Golden State Warriors. It was a Tuesday morning in mid-April, the day before the team’s first postseason play-in game in Los Angeles. When this season ended, his 12-year run with the Golden State Warriors would end, too.”
“I think it’s over,” he said, almost mouthing the words. His sweatsuit separated him from the businessmen eating breakfast in suits and ties nearby. He put the odds at 95 percent.”
However, all it took to change Kerr’s mind, even just for a moment, was that one final win.
Later in the piece, Thompson then recalled Kerr’s sentiment postgame, in a private meeting with his assistant coaches, where he appeared to have a change of heart.
“An assistant with a stat sheet said they’d led for only four minutes and six seconds,” Thompson recalled about the private postgame meeting. “Everyone laughed and tried to stay in the moment. Steve looked over at me and spoke quietly, almost a whisper.
“I’m not leaving,” Kerr told Thompson.
Thompson shared that Kerr then opened his phone to find dozens of text messages before reading the one from his wife, Margot, first.
“You’re not leaving,” Margot wrote in the message.
And after Kerr weighed his decision for a few more weeks, she was proven right.
