Douglas Farmer values Damian Lillard's experience in the 3-point contest coupled with his being super-fresh after not playing all season.
"A skeptic might wonder if Lillard will be rusty. The better thought is to expect Lillard to be peaking. No one else in this contest has as much experience in it as he does, and no one else has circled this Saturday night as the highlight of their season."
Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns can hit shots from anywhere, and Allan Houston is one of the great pure shooters the Knicks have ever had. There are no holes to poke in this roster compared to the other three, so give me Team Knicks as a favorite that should be shorter.
NBA All-Star Saturday Night info
Location:
Intuit Dome, Inglewood, CA
Date:
Saturday, February 14, 2026
Kickoff:
5:00 p.m. ET
TV:
NBC
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
The All-Star break is a great opportunity for teams to reset. With less than two months until the playoffs, players get a chance to recover from nagging injuries and coaches can reset mentally before the final stretch of a lengthy regular season.
Fantasy managers get the opportunity to do the same. A week off from scouring the waiver wire as soon as you wake up. The fantasy playoffs in many leagues will start March 2, which means there are only a couple weeks left until the postseason. Start making moves now to maximize your games played during your playoffs.
Waiver wire adds can push your team to a championship, but you can only be in that situation if your stars are healthy and dominating. For this year’s fantasy All-Stars, I went with players that have been both excellent and available. The games played minimum is set at 35, so roughly two-thirds of a player’s possible games played. That led to some studs not making the cut, such as Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid and Austin Reaves, even if they have all been incredible and can be difference-makers down the stretch if healthy.
Using the NBA’s new All-Star roster format of Team World, Team USA (old guys) and Team USA (young guys), we have our 24 fantasy All-Stars. Having a team with a few of these guys likely means you’re sitting near the top of your standings and preparing for the postseason (unless you have some ridiculous bad luck, which happens in fantasy).
Unsurprisingly, Jokic headlines Team World. He missed about a month with a knee injury, which was unfortunate, but he is back to dominating already. He has been the best player in fantasy basketball of the 2020s, which hasn’t changed this season.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
The reigning MVP missed the final five games before the All-Star break, but he only missed two games prior to that and has been dominant all season. His counting stats are slightly down from last season, but he has been even more efficient.
Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio has managed Wemby’s minutes for most of the season, but he has still been able to replicate his production from last season while being even more efficient. He has the Spurs just three games out of first in the West.
Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers
Doncic was still incredible last season, but after a tumultuous year for him, he has gotten back to producing like he did during the 2023-24 season. LeBron James has been better recently, but both he and Austin Reaves have missed time this year. The Lakers are 5th in the West because of how dominant Doncic has been.
Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets
Murray is making his first All-Star appearance this weekend, and he has also had the best fantasy season of his career. He is averaging career highs in points, rebounds, assists and three-pointers per game while also posting the best field goal percentage of his career. Everyone else in Denver has missed significant time this year, but Murray has kept them afloat.
Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz
After struggling during the 2024-25 season, Markkanen bounced back in a big way this year. He’s averaging career highs in points, assists and steals in what has been arguably the best statistical season of his career. Hopefully we’ll get to see him keep it up down the stretch of this season.
Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets
With Fred VanVleet (knee) sidelined for the season, Sengun has stepped up as the primary facilitator in Houston. He is averaging career highs in assists, steals and blocks, which has helped him lead the Rockets to the 4th-best record in the West.
Alex Sarr, Washington Wizards
In his second season, Sarr has taken drastic strides on both ends of the floor. His field goal percentage is up over 10 percent from last year, and he is posting career highs in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks. He’s going to be a fantasy star for a long time. Unfortunately, he’s set to miss some time with a hamstring injury.
Team USA Stripes
Kawhi Leonard, LA Clippers
The most (pleasantly) surprising thing about Leonard cracking this list is that he has played enough games. He has missed some time, but he has been available for most of the year and has been playing some of the best basketball of his career. He is averaging career highs in points and three-pointers per game while also shooting the best free throw percentage of his career.
Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers
Mitchell is averaging a career high in points per game to go with the best field goal percentage of his career. The Cavs are 17-5 over their last 22 games, and Mitchell will look to take his team further in the playoffs with his new backcourt partner James Harden.
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
The man that has singlehandedly been keeping the Warriors afloat in recent years just keeps on getting it done. He missed the final five games entering the All-Star break but has been mostly available this season. Surprise, surprise, he’s leading the league in triples per game again.
James Harden, Cleveland Cavaliers
Harden’s 25.0 points per game this year are his highest average since the 2019-20 season, when he led the league with 34.3 points per game. He’s not that MVP caliber player that he once was, but he has had an excellent year and will look to keep that going with the Cavs down the stretch of this season.
Kevin Durant, Houston Rockets
It doesn’t seem to matter what jersey KD is wearing. He’s going to put up an efficient 25 points per game. He’s only missed five games this season, which is impressive at 37 years old. Durant is clearly still one of the best scorers in the NBA.
Michael Porter Jr., Brooklyn Nets
MPJ’s value in Denver deteriorated, which led to him being shipped to Brooklyn for Cam Johnson. This is the first time in his career that he has been a top scoring option, and he has taken advantage of the opportunity, averaging career highs in points, assists and three-pointers per game.
Mikal Bridges, New York Knicks
Bridges’ usage is down this season, but he is posting a career high in assists per game while also averaging his most steals per game since his second year in the league. He has cooled down in recent weeks, but he’s done enough over the course of the season to make this list.
Derrick White, Boston Celtics
If White’s field goal percentage wasn’t below 40 percent for the first time in his career, we’d be looking at White as a top-10 player in fantasy basketball this season. He is averaging career highs in points, assists, steals and blocks. Boston is 2nd in the East entering the All-Star break, and White has helped them have success without Jayson Tatum.
Team USA Stars
Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers
Somehow, Maxey just keeps getting better. He is averaging career highs in points, rebounds, assists, steals and three-pointers per game. The 76ers are officially his team, though the reemergence of Joel Embiid will give them a chance to really make some noise in the East. We’re officially in fantasy superstar status for Maxey.
Trey Murphy, New Orleans Pelicans
Murphy has been one of the lone bright spots in New Orleans this season. He is averaging career highs in points, rebounds, assists, steals and three-pointers per game, though that hasn’t been enough to make this team competitive. Hopefully this right shoulder injury won’t keep him sidelined for the rest of this season.
Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
Edwards seems to improve on something every season, but this year he simply became a better scorer. His rim, mid-range and three-point percentage are all the best marks of his career, which had led to a career-high in points per game.
Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors
Toronto has been much better as a team this season, and Barnes has been a big part of that. He’s having the most efficient scoring season of his career while still stuffing the stat sheet across the board. There aren’t many players in the league that are more tailored for fantasy basketball than Barnes.
Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks
Johnson made a huge leap last season, but he has somehow done it again this year. He’s second in the league in both double-doubles and triple-doubles while also averaging a bunch of career highs across the board. Atlanta handed him the keys by dealing Trae Young to Washington, and Johnson has taken advantage.
Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons
Detroit has the fewest losses in the league entering the All-Star break, and Cunningham has been at the center of it all. The efficiency has been average, but he has poured in the counting stats across the board. He may not win the award, but there is a reason Cade is in the middle of the MVP race.
Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder
After only playing 32 games last season, Holmgren has barely missed time this year and has been excellent for fantasy managers. He’s averaging career highs in points and rebounds per game while also ranking in the top-five in blocks per game.
Keyonte George, Utah Jazz
If anyone saw this list during the preseason, George would be the biggest surprise, but he has been that good. He has taken a monster leap forward on offense after being behind Isaiah Collier in the rotation to end last season. George was one of the best late-round picks this year, and he should continue to dominate when he returns from this ankle injury.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - FEBRUARY 09: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves celebrates with teammate Ayo Dosunmu #13 in the second quarter against the Atlanta Hawks at Target Center on February 09, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In a world where nobody agrees on anything, politics, movies, or whether pineapple belongs on pizza, there is one thing that has brought rare, almost suspicious unity to Timberwolves fans:
Tim Connelly absolutely cooked at the 2026 NBA trade deadline.
For a fan base that has spent the better part of two decades oscillating between hope and existential dread, the deadline was a moment of collective head-nodding. The Wolves entered the season with a very obvious, very uncomfortable roster flaw: the point guard position. It wasn’t subtle. It wasn’t nuanced. It was the basketball equivalent of a check engine light that had been on since October.
You had Mike Conley Jr., beloved, steady, respected, and clearly battling Father Time in a league that moves at warp speed. And then you had Rob Dillingham, the eighth overall pick in 2024, who had shown flashes but not nearly enough consistency to justify being the primary organizer of a team with championship aspirations. That pairing of aging veteran plus unproven youth felt fragile for a team coming off back-to-back Western Conference Finals appearances and openly chasing its first NBA title.
The fan base noticed. The murmurs began.
As free agency came and went and experienced point guards found homes elsewhere, the question grew louder: what’s the plan here? Was Donte DiVincenzo really going to be the long-term answer at the point? Donte is talented. He’s tough. He can shoot. But he is not a pure table-setter. And at times this season, that lack of a steady hand has shown up in the worst possible moments with late-game stagnation, stalled possessions, hero-ball spirals that felt avoidable.
By early February, with Minnesota hovering around the six seed and flirting with the play-in, it was clear something had to give. The Wolves were too good to stand pat. Too close to the second apron to be reckless. And too asset-strapped to swing wildly without consequences.
The obvious minor-move pieces were there: Rob Dillingham. Maybe Terrence Shannon Jr. Mike Conley’s expiring contract had value, but moving him risked destabilizing the locker room. There were also whispers of a gentleman’s agreement that Connelly wouldn’t trade Conley out of respect for his desire to retire in Minnesota.
And then, just as the trade deadline approached, the rumor mill went thermonuclear.
Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Suddenly, this wasn’t about shoring up the point guard spot. It was about seismic, league-altering tectonic plates. A potential all-in move that would have sent shockwaves from Minneapolis to Milwaukee and coast-to-coast. If you squinted, you could see it: Ant and Giannis, the most explosive duo in the NBA. But if you looked closer, you also saw the cost. Jaden McDaniels? Naz Reid? Rudy Gobert? Julius Randle? Probably multiple of the above.
You’d get the league’s most terrifying two-man wrecking crew… and a skeleton roster behind them.
The fan base was split. Some wanted to push every chip into the middle of the table. Others understood that you don’t casually detonate a Western Conference Finals core when you’re already in the contender tier. Anthony Edwards is 24. His window isn’t closing tomorrow. There’s a difference between aggressive and reckless.
In the end, Giannis stayed put. The earthquake never hit.
Instead, Connelly went surgical.
First, he moved Mike Conley to Chicago, using his expiring deal as leverage. Then came the real strike: Rob Dillingham, Leonard Miller, and second-round picks to the Bulls for Ayo Dosunmu.
It wasn’t flashy. It wasn’t Giannis. But it was exactly what this team needed.
Dosunmu immediately addresses the Wolves’ most glaring weakness. He’s a legitimate ball-handler. He can get downhill. He can organize an offense without hijacking it. He fits next to Anthony Edwards rather than duplicating him. He gives Minnesota the kind of backcourt stability that’s been missing during those fourth-quarter offensive droughts that have cost them winnable games.
And then came the quiet genius part.
Conley was rerouted to Charlotte. A buyout loomed. And by all indications, Minnesota is positioned to bring him back into the fold after the All-Star break. Which means Connelly may have upgraded the position, used Conley’s contract as a tool, and honored the veteran’s wish to retire as “Minnesota Mike.”
That’s not just cap management. That’s relationship management. That’s culture building.
It’s no surprise his approval rating around Canis Hoopus is hovering in the plus-90’s. The few remaining Giannis dreamers can still cling to the possibility that the book isn’t fully closed this off-season, but realistically? Connelly just reinforced the current contender instead of tearing it apart.
The Western Conference Finals core remains intact.
Anthony Edwards is still the franchise centerpiece.
Rudy Gobert, Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid, and Julius Randle are all still here.
And now there’s Dosunmu in the mix, adding the type of guard play that could be the difference between another deep run and finally breaking through the glass ceiling.
The Wolves didn’t detonate their future chasing a headline. They patched the leak in the hull while keeping the ship seaworthy.
In a league where panic trades and ego-driven swings often dominate February, Minnesota played this one with discipline and vision.
So hats off to Tim Connelly. Not for the biggest move of the deadline, but for the smartest one. And as the Wolves head into the stretch run, they do so with something they didn’t fully have a few weeks ago:
Clarity.
The roster is set. The smoke has cleared. No savior is coming from the outside.
This is the group.
And thanks to one calculated, well-timed move, that group suddenly looks a little more complete, and a lot more dangerous, when June rolls around.
P.S. – The Wolves currently sit at +3000 to win the NBA Title on FanDuel Sportsbook, so now may be the time to pounce if you think Dosunmu can be the difference-maker this team needed to finally make it past the Conference Finals.
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 13: Mat Ishbia #15 of Team Anderson dribbles the ball during the game against Team Antetokounmpo during the Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game as part of NBA All-Star Weekend on Friday, February 13, 2026 at Kia Forum in Los Angeles, 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 Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
If there is one thing the Phoenix Suns have done this season, it is make their fan base proud, and that pride comes from the way they play, the way they compete, and the way they have pushed past expectations in a way that feels honest and earned. As a fan, you feel it. Because the last two seasons trained a lot of us to brace for disappointment, to disengage a little, to skip podcasts you knew would only mirror what you were watching night after night. It was a disconnected team playing disjointed basketball that made even SportsCenter feel pointless because there were no highlights worth sticking around for.
That feeling is gone.
Now the Suns keep rolling out moments that demand attention, sequences that make you sit up, rewind, and send a text. Around the league, respect has followed, not because of hype, but because of how this team operates together. Opposing fan bases see it too, the speed of the turnaround, the clarity of the identity, and more than a few of them wish their team could flip the switch the same way Phoenix has.
Friday night followed the same rhythm, with the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game tipping off and the Phoenix Suns being represented by their owner, Mat Ishbia, lacing them up for Team Anthony. Yes, that Anthony, Anthony Anderson. On the other sideline was Team Giannis, which meant one team had an actual NBA player attached to it and the other was captained by the Burger Shack employee from Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle, which honestly felt like a fair snapshot of the entire event.
The word “celebrity” always gets stretched pretty thin in these games, and I will openly admit I did not recognize about three-quarters of the people on the floor, which probably says more about my age and priorities than it does about the lineup. That said, I knew exactly who Mat Ishbia was, and watching him out there ended up being genuinely fun.
His team took the loss, but Ishbia brought energy and leaned into the moment. Mat took the court rocking a pair of Book 2 Fragments, a pair that All-Star guard Devin Booker debuted a few nights ago against the Dallas Mavericks.
If you were searching for the clip that summed up the entire evening, that was the one. The Suns’ owner flying through the lane, letting it go, and reminding everyone that sometimes the most entertaining part of All-Star Weekend comes from the places you least expect.
Once again, you cannot help but puff your chest out a little. Be proud of the Phoenix Suns fan in you. Mat Ishbia had himself a solid night, throwing behind-the-back passes, jumping passing lanes, and flashing that Michigan State DNA, the kind of edge and competitiveness that still traces back to his time under Tom Izzo and never really leaves you.
Full highlights from Mat Ishbia's gritty performance tonight. Overall, terrific effort with his on-ball defense and crashing the boards to help generate extra possessions for his team. Also got to the line a few times. @Mishbia15 out here living up to the Phoenix Suns' culture pic.twitter.com/Xx0lMLUVTw
Night two brings Devin Booker in the three-point contest. It has not been his best individual season, but it has been a strong year for the Suns, and that matters. Even sitting at +600, that is where I am putting my money. Booker.
And for the record, way to go, Mat Ishbia. Respect.
DUBLIN (AP) — Ireland got relief from a 20-13 home win over Italy in the Six Nations on Saturday, coming from behind at halftime and grinding out an unconvincing result.
Coach Andy Farrell wanted his slumping side to muzzle the doubters and make a statement after being blown away by France 36-14 last week, Ireland’s worst Six Nations loss in 16 years.
Instead, Italy reaffirmed it is no longer the tournament doormat, backing up its 18-15 opening win over Scotland by contributing daringly to a compelling match and being unfortunate. Italy had a try ruled out and another try missed by an unlucky bounce of the ball.
Way past 80 minutes, Italy's last attack was broken by an intercept by James Lowe, who took it to the Italy 22 and got a penalty. But instead of taking three points to rob Italy of a losing bonus point, Ireland went for a bonus-point fourth try and kicked the ball dead, ending the match.
Ireland's performance won’t worry England before their clash at Twickenham next weekend, when Italy goes to title favorite France.
From the kickoff, Ireland showed the intent that Farrell wished he'd seen more of in Paris last week. The attack flowed with wingers Robert Baloucoune — playing his first test in more than three years — and Lowe prominent.
Italy's defense was equal to the task, making two ruck turnovers. An Irish tap penalty was wasted when hooker Dan Sheehan was penalized for a high jump.
It took Italy winger Louis Lynagh's yellow card for a so-called deliberate knock-on to open a gap that Ireland exposed. Center Stuart McCloskey offloaded for fullback Jamie Osborne to score untouched. The easy conversion attempt was badly missed by Sam Prendergast.
As much as Ireland dominated the first 20 minutes, the second 20 was Italy's.
Fullback Lorenzo Pani spoiled a beautiful chip and chase when he offloaded too low for Michele Lamaro, who had only grass between him and the tryline.
After Ireland scrumhalf Craig Casey took a yellow card and bloodied nose from a passive high tackle on Italy's Lorenzo Cannone, Italy kicked to the corner, mauled the lineout and hooker Giacomo Nicotera scored. Paolo Garbisi's sideline conversion gave them a 10-5 lead.
Italy tighthead Simone Ferrari continued to have the edge on Ireland loosehead Jeremy Loughman and, near halftime, Italy's scrum shattered Ireland's. Italy waived the three points to gamble on seven. But the maul was stopped and the attack held up.
Still, Italy led at halftime in Dublin for the first time ever and was halfway to a first Six Nations win in the Irish capital.
The halftime lead lasted less than three minutes. Ireland sent a kickable penalty into the left corner and the lineout ball was used for Jack Conan to burrow over. Prendergast missed the conversion attempt badly again.
Italy should have retaken the lead thanks to sublime back play. Osborne had to make a try-saving tackle on counterpart Pani, then a Lynagh try was canceled after center Tommaso Menoncello ruined his lovely break with a forward pass.
That was Ireland's cue to send on Jamison Gibson-Park followed by Jack Crowley. The new pivots were decisive and sparked Ireland to attack from all parts. They earned the lead for the first time in 25 minutes when Baloucoune backed himself to beat two defenders to the tryline.
Crowley converted, added a penalty and Ireland was 20-10 up and rampant.
But Italy rallied again, and the scrum produced the rare sight of lifting Irish and Lions tighthead Tadhg Furlong off his feet.
Nothing else by Italy in the last 14 minutes was as stunning, and the visitor fell to its narrowest loss in Dublin in 18 years.
MADRID (AP) — Borja Iglesias scored in stoppage time, after having another seemingly good goal ruled out through VAR, to salvage a 2-2 draw for Celta Vigo at Espanyol in the Spanish league on Saturday.
A rueful Iglesias shook his head and smiled after having a 77th-minute goal disallowed when a long check determined there had been an offside infringement.
His frustrations grew when Ramón Terrats pulled the ball back for fellow substitute Tyrhys Dolan to score what he thought was the winner for Espanyol in the 86th minute.
But Iglesias equalized in the third minute of stoppage time when Pablo Durán set him up with his heel after a good run from Sergio Carreira.
“I think we’re doing a lot of things well,” said Iglesias, who felt he should have been awarded a penalty for the goal he had ruled out.
Celta’s Ferrán Jutglà broke the deadlock in the 38th after being set up by right back Javi Rueda, and Espanyol ’keeper Marko Dmitrovic made a flying save to thwart Carreira after the break.
Espanyol coach Manolo González made a triple substitution to rejig the home team, and it paid off when substitute Kike García equalized with a brilliant strike inside the post.
Terrats and Dolan thought they’d engineered a memorable comeback only for Iglesias to have the final say.
Espanyol remained sixth and Celta a point behind in seventh.
Real Madrid is hosting Real Sociedad later and aiming for an eighth successive league win to pressure Barcelona before the leader’s match at Girona on Monday.
After 23 rounds, Barcelona is leading Madrid by a point.
Also Saturday, fourth-place Villarreal is playing at mid-table Getafe, and Sevilla faces Alaves in a duel between two strugglers.
The recurring question of the season surrounding Kansas basketball has become the availability of freshman star Darryn Peterson.
The projected top pick in the 2026 NBA draft has missed 11 games this season for the Jayhawks, including missing the Monday, Feb. 9 win over No. 1 Arizona. Questions have been raised about Peterson's presence on the team's bench against the Wildcats, despite being listed out due to flu-like symptoms.
When the freshman guard has seen action this year, he has been fantastic: In 13 games this season, he is averaging 20.5 points and 4.2 rebounds per game on 48.9% shooting.
Here's the latest on Peterson's playing status as the Jayhawks go for their second top-five victory of the week:
Kansas basketball coach Bill Self said on Thursday, Feb. 12, was hopeful Peterson would be available "full speed" to play against No. 4 Iowa on Saturday, Feb. 14, while also dispelling narratives about his playing status this season.
“Is he better today? Yeah, he was out there yesterday,” Self said. “Was he full speed? No. Was he full speed today? No. I’m hoping he can be closer to full speed tomorrow, and hopefully, he can be full speed on Saturday. But that’s what he’s dealing with, and it’s a lot, I would think, when you’re 19 years old and you’re dealing with everybody having a narrative about everything that’s going on.
"Or, you’re sitting on the bench, and you’ve got heat warmers on your legs or whatever, and now everybody’s got a narrative about a heat warmer. I mean, come on. But that’s what he’s dealing with, and that’s the world he’s getting ready to enter. But the narratives haven’t been accurate.”
What channel is Kansas vs Iowa State basketball on today?
Kansas and Iowa State men’s basketball will face off in a nationally televised matchup on ABC.
Streaming options for the game include the ESPN app, which requires a valid cable login to access, and Fubo, which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.
MILWAUKEE, WI - JANUARY 21: The Milwaukee Bucks announce that Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks will be a starter in the all star game during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on January 21, 2026 at Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images). | NBAE via Getty Images
With the NBA All-Star Game this long weekend, fans get to see an exhibition of the biggest stars in the league. As Washington Wizards fans, well, we know that our team won’t be in it. But at least it’s an interesting game to watch when players choose to put forth a decent effort.
Anyway, this week’s SB Nation Reacts survey was about how you felt about whether you understand the tournament format of the game. Only 42 percent did.
This year’s format is a four team affair with three teams, two made up of American players (Stars, Stripes) and one of non-Americans (World). There is a round robin before the final match.
I like the format of USA vs. the World, especially with the NBA’s best players all coming from outside the USA. But I agree that the format is confusing.
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 10: Carter Bryant #11 of the San Antonio Spurs dunks the ball during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on February 10, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, 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 Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Slam Dunk Contest is taking place today as part of All-Star Weekend and for the second consecutive year, the Spurs have a participant.
Last year was Stephon Castle. This year, Carter Bryant, the fourteenth pick of the most recent draft class, is joining the contest.
Originally created in 1976 by the ABA to gain viewership from NBA fans, the inaugural competition featured two San Antonio Spurs- George Gervin and Larry Kenon. Julius Erving, “Dr. J,” won the contest. They repeated the following year (without any members of the Spurs) before shelving the event.
In 1984, the NBA relaunched the Slam Dunk Contest as a part of their All-Star festivities. Edgar Jones represented the Spurs but did not make it out of the first round.
Three years later Johnny Dawkins participated in the 1987 Slam Dunk Contest. Dawkins, recently drafted by the Spurs, spent his first three seasons with the Silver & Black.
The following year Greg “Cadillac” Anderson competed in the 1988 Slam Dunk Contest. Like, Dawkins, Anderson was in his rookie season after being drafted in the first round by the Spurs.
After three participants in five years, it was another thirty-seven years before the San Antonio Spurs had representation in the competition. That was Stephon Castle, the reigning Rookie of the Year.
Thus far, the Spurs have never had a player win the contest. Carter Bryant represents the seventh player, but only the fifth since the NBBA commandeered the competition, and only the second in this millennium.
the Slam Dunk Contest takes place at 4PM CST on NBA and Peacock.
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“There’s just a lot of little things when you see Mo play that make you go, ‘Oh my gosh, wow.’ And all those things, when you add them up to a possible opportunity, it gives you more confidence as a coaching staff to throw him out there and say, ‘OK, let’s see what’s going to happen.’”
On Diawara’s feel and instincts:
“In the summertime, you started to see his feel. His feel for the game is uncanny for a guy who is 6-foot-8 or however big he is and how young he is. Everything you try to teach him, he tries to absorb it and works very hard. He’s long and a pretty good defender … getting better. Just a lot of little things that you watch and go, ‘Oh, wow.’ All of those things, when they add up to a possible opportunity, it gives you more confidence as a coaching staff to throw him out there.”
On Diawara’s offensive freedom:
“If you’re wide open, let that thing fly. If not, try to touch the paint and kick it out. He doesn’t have the leeway that obviously the other cats on the floor have to be able to go create a shot for himself. Now, having said that, one of the things that Mo has, and I’m amazed at for a young guy, he has a pretty good feel of where his open teammate is. Like, he’ll drive and it’s not like Chris Paul or Magic Johnson where they’ll drop a dime and everybody says, ‘Whoa.’ But if he touches that paint, that pass is getting there on time, on target and it’s like a laser. So he’s got a really good feel of where everybody is and his height and passing ability, he’s able to make timely passes that look simple, but are really hard, especially for a young guy. So he’s got a little more freedom in terms of drive and kick than a lot of younger guys might have at that time.”
Jeremy Lin with the 8-point dagger to win it for Team Giannis because of course 🗡️🗡️🗡️🗡️🗡️🗡️🗡️🗡️ pic.twitter.com/MsteI89LMw
On the relationship with his sister, who drew him into basketball:
“We never played one-on-one. When I started really playing basketball, she stopped. We were never on the court together.”
On choosing basketball over soccer once he discovered hoops:
“I was like, ‘That’s the perfect match.’”
On specializing to stay in the NBA:
“I felt like if I wanted to have a long career in the NBA, I had to be good at something. So, I got to specialize in something. Three-point shooting and defense. Those are things that are going to make me stay in the league for the longest.”
On believing in his progression:
“Because I trust my work, and I’m not working for nothing.”
Jeremy Sochan to wear 20?
Sochan’s agency just posted this graphic of Sochan wearing 20
“In camp, I thought he was going to be real good. He’s young, raw and inexperienced. He’s good defensively, and he’s an even better shooter than I thought. It always looked good, but now it’s going in. I think he’s a good decision-maker in the pocket. He’s athletic and can finish at the rim, get guys involved. I love where he’s at, and he’s continued to work.”
On Diawara’s improved shooting:
“He’s an even better shooter than I thought. I always thought the shot looked good, but now it’s going in.”
On Diawara coming out of shell:
“Now that (Yabusele) is gone, he doesn’t really … all he did was speak French to him. Now that (Yabusele) is gone, hopefully that forces him to come out of (his) shell a little bit more. He’s part of the guys. We’ve got to get him more acclimated to rookie duties.”
On missing his pregame ritual after the passing of his mother:
“Usually, her ritual with me was, I’d be doing my warmup lines, we’d run out, we’d go into our two lines, and we’d start doing our layup lines. My mom made it her thing to stand next to the stanchion and just wave at me. It felt great, being your mom’s there, nothing can be wrong. She got me. I remember that first game back in Minnesota, I kept looking and kept thinking someone’s gonna show up, and no one’s gonna show up, so it was a different feeling.”
Carmelo Anthony on Chris Paul's retirement: "It's CP man. We can't downplay our Point God. We in his building (Clippers Intuit Dome)…Forget all the narratives…he's been CP…I just want him to get the flowers he deserve…certified legend in this game" pic.twitter.com/ob9SHUHbDH
Mar 5, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; For the first time in Boston Celtics history, two teammates scored over 40 points in a game, Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9), 41 points, and guard Payton Pritchard (11) ,43 points as they joke around after their win over the Portland Trail Blazers at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images | Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
This year’s NBA All Star game will be Jaylen Brown’s 5th. Jayson Tatum has been in 6 himself. Newcomer Nikola Vucevic appeared in two.
If they are back at normal health next season, I would expect to see Brown and Tatum back in the game. But will there be a 3rd member of the team to join them? And if so, who might that be?
The obvious choice would be Derrick White, who has been knocking on the door of the honor for a few years running. He’s clearly deeply valuable to this team, but too often his best attributes are subtle and don’t get the attention that they deserve. His shooting touch was a bit off early this season, so that probably doomed his chances. Perhaps a hot shooting winter next season could earn him a spot.
Next up is Payton Pritchard, who has thrived now as both a starter and reserve for the Celtics. He scores at multiple levels despite his comparatively diminutive size. He takes care of the ball and has a knack for getting buckets when the team most needs it (in particular at the buzzer in dramatic fashion).
Or could someone else leapfrog both of them? Neemias Queta perhaps? Sam Hauser? Perhaps one of the young wings takes a major step forward. What about Hugo Gonzalez? I know these are all long, long shots, but you never know. Ok, any of those guys sniffing the All Star game next season is a bit of a reach next season, but what about in a few years?
So what do you think? Who’s at the All Star game next season?
LANDOVER, MD - CIRCA 1982: Dennis Johnson #24 of the Phoenix Suns dribbles the ball up court against the Washington Bullets during an NBA basketball game circa 1982 at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland. Johnson played for the Suns from 1980-83. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Phoenix Suns All-Time Pyramid was never going to be an easy exercise. I knew that going in. What I did not fully appreciate was how much mental real estate it would occupy. I have gone back and forth on pieces of this for a month and a half, revisiting names, shifting thoughts, second-guessing myself at odd hours.
And nothing, in my opinion, was tougher than the bottom tier.
The five tiers above it have some natural guardrails. Lines of demarcation you can point to. Rules you can apply. Tenure. Accolades. Impact that feels settled over time. The bottom tier does not offer that kind of comfort. This is where bias walks right through the front door and sits on the couch. This is where statistical cases can be made for players who got in and players who did not. This is where personal preference starts driving the car.
Maybe you value rebounding more than I do. Maybe you think awards should carry more weight. Maybe longevity matters less than peak. All of those arguments live here. That is why Tier 6 was a grind. Not because it lacked importance, but because it had too many plausible answers.
So let’s get into it.
I will briefly touch on the honorable mentions first, fully aware that I am going to leave someone out. That is unavoidable. That is how projects like this work. But before we start debating names, let’s take a look at the updated version of the Phoenix Suns All-time Pyramid, now with Tier 6 filled in.
Honorable Mentions
There can only be 21 names in the group, which means there are always going to be players left standing outside the door. Some of those omissions feel obvious. Others are going to spark arguments, and honestly, that is part of the point.
I think Boris Diaw, Mikal Bridges, Leandro Barbosa, Mark West, and even Goran Dragic all have legitimate cases to land in that bottom tier. If you want to put any of them there, I truly have no problem with it. If P.J. Tucker is your guy, I get that, too. I am not here to shut that down.
Where I ultimately landed is rooted in impact. What did you give the organization while you were here, and how did that show up over time? Sometimes that impact came through winning basketball. Sometimes it came through culture. Sometimes it came through stability in moments where stability mattered.
I believe the players I slotted into that tier did more for the Suns than some of the other names that get floated in this conversation, even if that contribution looked different from player to player.
And that is where we get into it. Because those differences matter, and those capacities are worth unpacking.
Tier 6: The Core Contributors
You know how the NCAA Tournament can invite nearly seventy teams and still find a way to argue about the last four in and the first four out? It is a little ridiculous on its face, but that tension is baked into the exercise. With only 21 players making this pyramid, the same thing applies. There is always a last guy in. There is always a first guy out.
For me, that line landed with Grant Hill.
And I love Grant Hill. His resurgence in Phoenix, what he brought night after night, the professionalism, the steadiness, the feel for the game, all of it mattered. That version of Grant Hill was a gift. But when I got down to the final decision, I went with Goran Dragic for the sixth tier.
Games played mattered. Time invested mattered. And then there was that season. The Most Improved Player campaign in the 2013-14 season, the same year he earned his lone All-NBA selection. He averaged 20.3 points per game, led a surprising Suns team to the edge of playoff contention, and did it as the engine, not a passenger. If the Play-In tournament existed back then, who knows how far that group would have gone? Goran was the reason it even became a conversation. He also handed out 5.9 assists per game, balancing scoring with control, pressure with pace.
Dragic spent six total seasons in Phoenix across two stints, and along the way gave us one of the most unexpected and iconic playoff performances in franchise history in the 2010 postseason against the Spurs. He dropped 26 points on 10-of-13 shooting and went a perfect 5-of-5 from deep. Even more absurd, 23 of those points came in the fourth quarter alone, while the Spurs managed only 24 as a team.
That night still lives in the Sun’s lore. It still feels unreal. And for me, it is enough. That is why Goran Dragic gets the final spot in tier six.
Eddie Johnson was on the team when I first started watching basketball, and there is one thing you need to understand right away: the guy was an absolute bucket.
To this day, he still sits third all-time in free-throw percentage in franchise history, shooting 87% during his three-and-a-half seasons in Phoenix. That alone is impressive. What really jumps off the page is how much damage he did in a relatively small role. He averaged 18.4 points per game across 222 games, and he only started 70 of them.
That is the definition of instant offense.
Eddie Johnson came off the bench and kept the scoring pressure relentless. There was no let-up. That is why he won Sixth Man of the Year in 1988-89 and then finished third in the same voting the following season. Those Suns teams ranked second in offensive rating in 1988-89 and third in 1989-90, and that did not happen by accident.
In 1988-89, Johnson averaged 21.5 points per game. He played in 70 games. He started seven. Seven! That tells you everything you need to know about how devastating he was in that role. You could not stop the offense, and Eddie Johnson walking off the bench was a massive reason why.
Most people today know him as the colorful voice on Suns broadcasts. The guy with stories. The guy with opinions. But when he played in Phoenix, he was a real problem. And if you were on the other side when he checked in, you felt it immediately.
If you are under 30, you are probably still wrapping your head around how much one defensive player can tilt the temperature of an entire team. What Dillon Brooks has done this season feels jarring if you have not lived through it before. It looks like an anomaly. It feels like culture shock. But this is not new around here.
You have to go back to 2005 to find the closest parallel, when the Suns signed Raja Bell as a free agent and quietly changed the personality of the roster. That team needed to get tougher. Full stop. And while I still disagree with the decision to trade Quentin Richardson for Kurt Thomas, and while I will always carry a soft spot for Joe Johnson and his size and shooting, the addition of Raja Bell was a direct response to the San Antonio Spurs. That was the problem to solve. And Raja personified the answer.
This is one of those cases where I had to let the player override my personal bias. Because if I am being honest, I was never a huge Raja Bell guy. I was a scorned fan. I wanted Joe Johnson to stay. I thought the offense would keep humming if you trusted that core and let it grow. And to Raja’s credit, the offense did keep humming. He did not break it. He enhanced it.
Over three and a half seasons in Phoenix, Bell made two All-NBA Defensive Teams. He currently ranks fifth all-time in three-point percentage at 42.2%. He sits third all-time in three pointers made per game at 2.4, with Grayson Allen now holding the top spot. That is real production layered on top of real defensive value.
And then there is the moment, the one that never fades. Raja Bell taking down Kobe Bryant. Something every Suns fan has fantasized about. Something almost no one ever actually gets to do. He did it and it lives forever.
So no, I was not waving the Raja Bell flag at the time. But respect is earned, and he earned every ounce of it. What he brought to Phoenix shaped teams. It changed tone. And whether I liked it or not, he belongs in this conversation.
This is one of those names that lives before my time, but the impact is impossible to ignore once you dig into it. Larry Nance was drafted 20th overall out of Clemson in the 1981 NBA Draft, and he spent seven full seasons in Phoenix from 1981 through 1988. That is not a footnote. That is a real stretch of meaningful time.
Over those seven years, Nance averaged 17.3 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. At his peak, he climbed to 22.5 points in 1986-87and 9.9 rebounds in 1987-88, numbers that still hold weight when you place them in context. He sits tenth all-time in minutes played in Suns history, fourth in total rebounds, and he remains the leading shot blocker the franchise has ever had.
Those were not always stable years for the organization. The Suns went through turbulence, uncertainty, and stretches where winning was not guaranteed. And through all of that, Larry Nance was the steady presence. The constant. The guy you could count on to show up, play above the rim, and impose himself on games in ways that numbers alone do not always capture.
He made an All-Star team in 1985, which feels right when you look at his body of work. And then there is the dunk contest. In 1984, he went toe-to-toe with Julius Erving and beat him. The next year, he came back and lost to Dominique Wilkins. That alone tells you the kind of air he lived in and the kind of athlete he was.
When you step back and look at the Phoenix Suns All-Time Pyramid, it becomes hard to justify leaving Larry Nance out. He bridges an era and covers a gap in the franchise timeline that was not always defined by success. He was a player who rose above the chaos, played above the clouds, and left a permanent mark on the organization.
Now here is where I fully admit my bias, because I absolutely loved Stephon Marbury, and I am not going to pretend otherwise. He was not in Phoenix for long, just two and a half seasons, but his impact landed hard and stuck. He bridged the gap between the Jason Kidd and Steve Nash eras, and at that moment, he felt like a breath of fresh air for a franchise searching for its next identity.
Marbury played differently than what came before him. He attacked the basket with force, almost like a fullback hitting the hole, barreling down the lane while cradling the ball and finishing with that soft, patented floater that felt automatic once he got inside.
When you go back and look at the roster from that first season, it is almost jarring. That was Dan Majerle’s final year. Anfernee Hardaway was on the team. But it was the young, electric core of Marbury and Shawn Marion that really grabbed you.
Then the next year, the Suns drafted Amar’e Stoudemire, and the connection was instant. You could feel it. That team was fun in a way that felt like it was pointing somewhere. Playing with Starbury and STAT in NBA2k3 was the way I spent my summer before shipping out to basic training. That’s my bias remembering fondly what that duo could do.
I still remember losing my mind when Marbury hit that miraculous overtime game-winner in the first round against San Antonio. They lost that series 4-2, but it did not feel like a dead end. It felt like the beginning of something.
And the numbers back it up. His 21.3 points per game rank seventh all-time in Phoenix Suns history. His 39.8 minutes per game sit second all-time, which tells you how much responsibility he carried. He won Player of the Week three times in a Suns uniform, made an All-Star team, and earned an All-NBA Third Team selection.
So yes, my bias is absolutely part of why he is on this list, but that bias does not erase the case. It reinforces it. Stephon Marbury was a vibe in Phoenix. Coney Island’s finest remains one of my favorite Suns of all time, and he earns his place in this conversation without apology.
If you want to talk about players who truly made an impact, you do not have to look much further than Dennis Johnson, because what he brought to Phoenix on the defensive end was rare, difficult to replicate, and ultimately irreplaceable.
Johnson arrived in Phoenix already wearing a championship pedigree, having won it all with Seattle in 1979. His arrival signaled a real transition for the franchise, especially considering he came over in the trade that sent Paul Westphal out the door, which alone tells you how significant the moment was.
He only spent three seasons in Phoenix, but those three seasons carried real weight, particularly on the defensive side of the ball, where his presence changed the texture of games night after night.
You can make a strong case that Dennis Johnson was one of the most impactful players in Suns history relative to time spent with the organization. In his first season in Phoenix, he averaged 20.5 points per game while also pulling down 1.9 steals. Across all three of his seasons with the Suns, he was named to the All-NBA Defensive First Team, and he earned two All-Star selections.
Yes, he would eventually move on to Boston and win two more championships, adding even more shine to an already impressive career, but that does not diminish what he was in Phoenix. For a short window, Dennis Johnson was the defensive backbone of the Suns, a player who brought toughness, intelligence, and an edge that the team needed at that point in its evolution. His imprint on the franchise remains one of the most dominant defensive stretches the organization has ever seen.
Whew. Tier 6 done. Tier 5 tomorrow.
So, what do you think? Who would you have as your 6 players in Tier 6? Let us know in the comments below.
(Los Angeles Times photo illustration; Photographs from Los Angeles Times, Getty Images and Associated Press)
Slowly, LeBron James put on a pair of ice bath toe booties and dipped his left foot and then his right foot into a bucket that had been prepared for him following a Lakers game at Crypto.com Arena. His longtime personal trainer and athletic performance coach, Mike Mancias, next wrapped both of James’ knees and his back in ice.
James closed his eyes for a few seconds and leaned back in his chair as the media gathered around him for his postgame interview.
This was just another step in the process of how James has taken care of his body, a step that shows the lengths he takes in the maintenance of his body that has helped him have an illustrious 23-year career, longer than any player before him.
“Obviously I didn’t know it would be 23 years. I didn’t know that, but I know I didn’t want to have no six- or seven-year career. I can’t become legendary in six or seven years,” James told The Times. “I always had a mission. When I knew I could play this game at a high level, like, going to Chicago and playing with MJ [Michael Jordan] and all those guys when I was a sophomore [in high school]. And then when I went up to Cleveland and played against the Cavs when I was a junior and I was like, ‘Oh … I belong. I belong.’ I knew I still had to learn and I still had to continue to get my body right, continue to learn the game and nuances.
“But I was playing against NBA guys for a long time and I was like, ‘If I get the opportunity to crack the league, if I get the opportunity to showcase what I’m able to do, the only thing that can stop me is if I don’t take care of my body. The only thing that can stop me from being the greatest or one of the greatest to ever play this game is if I do not take care of myself.’ I did take care of my body. That’s it.”
James’ dedication at health maintenance has become legendary in the sporting world.
He is known to invest over $1.5 million annually for a comprehensive approach to keeping his body fine-tuned.
He talked about the biohacking he uses to maintain elite performances and longevity at the age of 41.
He talked about using Normatec leg compression boots, hyperbaric chambers to restore oxygen, cryotherapy, red-light therapy and any other cutting-edge technologies.
He talked about prioritizing sleep and nutrition, such as avoiding artificial sugars and fried foods.
When he missed the first 14 games this season because of sciatica, James cut back on drinking wine, one of his passions, in order to get his body back to full health.
“Obviously it’s gotten even more detailed as me and Mike have built a program,” James said. “It’s been 22 years of our program.”
LeBron James, left, jokes with trainer, Mike Mancias, right, while sitting out a game with the Cavaliers in 2010 to rest for playoffs. (Mark Duncan / Associated Press)
More so, it has worked to the highest order for James.
Though his streak of being voted as a starter to the All-Star team was snapped at 21 in a row, James still extended his league record to 22 when the coaches voted him onto the Western Conference team as a reserve for the game that will be played Sunday at Intuit Dome.
Over the course of time, James said, he’s received plenty of offers to try different ways to do his therapy.
For the most part, he has said no.
“It’s all type of [crap] that is presented to you,” James said, smiling. “[People] are always trying to get you to do [crap]. But once we got the connection, it wasn’t really many people that we allowed to come and be in what we do. We had a couple of guys obviously throughout the process that helped along the way. But, nah, we knew what we wanted to do.”
When James was a young kid growing up in Akron, Ohio, and it became obvious then that he was athletic, he said his uncle, Curt James, encouraged him to start taking care of his body immediately.
His mother, Gloria James, supported him and advised James to listen to uncle Curt.
“I probably was 10, 11 years old,” James said. “I used to stretch before I went to bed and when I woke up, when I was like 10 or 11years old. My uncle Curt, my mom’s younger brother, used to make me do a 100 calf raises a day and he used to make me do 50 push-ups and 50 sit-ups a day.”
James shook his head and laughed recalling those moments as a kid.
Lakers forward LeBron James glides past Kings forward DeMar DeRozan for a reverse dunk during a game in December at Crypto.com Arena. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)
“He told me I had to get my calves stronger if I wanted to be great,” James said, smiling at the thought of those conversations from years ago. “I never knew what that meant, whatever. But, yeah, my uncle used to tell me to do that and then a good friend of mine used to always tell me to stretch before I got in the bed and after I got out of the bed when I woke up the next morning. I don’t know man. I’ve been doing this for a long time.”
At no time during all this did James know what all that advice would mean in the future.
“No, but I had people that I trusted,” James said. “I was icing after every game my rookie year. I was 18 years-old. I was icing after games when I was a high school senior, a high school junior. Like, I was lifting [weights] my senior year.”
James told a story about playing in an AAU tournament with Kendrick Perkins when he was 14 and how some of the players were sitting in the stands eating fast food.
But not James. Even then he ate right.
“They were eating McDonald’s,” James said, smiling, “and I was eating fruits.”
Jason Kidd is the head coach of the Dallas Mavericks, but he was an assistant coach with the Lakers when James led them to the 2020 NBA championship and the two of them were teammates on the 2008 USA Olympic basketball team that won the gold medal at Beijing.
Kidd has watched how James is averaging 22.0 points per game on 50.2% shooting this season, 7.1 assists and 5.8 rebounds and can’t help but marvel at how James continues to be a highly effective player with so many miles on his body.
“Physically, LeBron, he's had some injuries, but he's taken care of his body, he's always prepared himself for the marathon,” Kidd said. “But I think it's the mental side. I think that's the hardest part is to wake up and say, ‘Do I need to go play against a 20-year-old or a 19-year-old?’ He's won championships, he's been MVP, he's been the face of the league. He's a billion-dollar company.
"So, it's the mental side. Understanding that he loves competition and he loves the game of basketball. So I think for him to do it at 41 is incredible.”
When the Lakers faced Kidd’s Mavericks on Thursday night, James was back in the lab early getting his body ready for the contest and he did so about six hours before game time.
Lakers forward LeBron James talks with assistant coach Jason Kidd during a 2020 playoff game against the Trail Blazers in Orlando. (Associated Press)
It didn’t matter that it was the last game before the weeklong All-Star break.
In James’ eyes, if you take care of your body, it will take care of you — at all times.
“Like for instance this morning. I woke up this morning, went straight downstairs, got a stretch, did a little activation, like a little small lil' lift [of weights],” James said after the game Thursday. “Then I iced after that. Then I used the Normatec to pump my legs for an hour. Then I took a nap in the hyperbaric chamber for an hour-and-a-half. Then I got in the cold tub, again, before I came here [to Crypto.com Arena]. So, I started my process here when I got here at 1:15 and prepared for a seven o’clock game. It’s just around the clock.”
And as it turned out, all his work led to yet another milestone for James.
His triple-double of 28 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds made James the oldest player in NBA history to accomplish that feat, pushing him past Karl Malone for the record.
And now comes another record appearance in an All-Star Game.
Inglewood, CA - 1972: Connie Hawkins in the 1972 NBA All-Star Game, the Forum. (Photo by Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)
We’ve talked before about how Connie Hawkins was mistreated by the basketball establishment. He came out of New York City’s Boys High School and accepted a scholarship to Iowa in 1960, only to get caught up in a point shaving scandal that he clearly had no part of.
It was based in and around New York though and he was ultimately expelled from Iowa and no other school would take him, and the NBA blackballed him when he was eligible for the 1964 draft.
He played in the ABL, the Harlem Globetrotters, and the ABA for several years before moving to the NBA in 1969 when the league concluded it would lose a lawsuit he had filed against it.
People had seen bits and glimpses of his genius, and in the videos we’ve seen and shared here, we’ve seen some of it.
This video really shows how far ahead of his time he was. One of the more amazing things in this video comes about :15 seconds in. Look at what he’s doing here. We’ve never seen anyone do that. Not Wilt, not Dr. J, no Michael, not anyone.
Part of that is because of his enormous hands and part of it is just his innate creativity that NBA players weren’t prepared for in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s.
It’s tempting to wonder what might have happened had he been drafted with his class in 1964. The first pick of that draft went to the Los Angeles Lakers who took UCLA’s Walt Hazzard.
If the Lakers had taken Hawkins, they would have added him to to a team that had Elgin Baylor and Jerry West. Those guys were good enough to challenge the Boston Celtics dynasty. If they had had another freak athlete to pair with Baylor, they might have broken the dynasty.
Kurt Helin
Raphielle Johnson
