Fresh off helping the New York Knicks win their first NBA title since 1973, Jalen Brunson has been interviewed by everyone. Including the youth.
Brunson appeared as a guest on Kids Sports Reporters and was asked who is the most famous person in his phone, to which he hilariously replied by taking a jab at Luka Dončić.
“I don’t know, some basketball player, right?” Brunson said, and then went on to sarcastically joke about Dončić and said, “I would say Luka probably. I’m not a fan of Luka. He’s probably one of the worst teammates I’ve ever had.”
Brunson and the two reporters interviewing him went on to take more shots at Dončić until one of them caught Brunson off guard when he said Dončić doesn’t play defense, which caught Brunson off guard and he abruptly responded saying “Wow!”
After the jab, Brunson was quick to defend his former Dallas Mavericks teammate by saying, “He plays defense. He plays a little defense, he tries.”
Before Brunson arrived with the Knicks in 2022, he was drafted by the Mavericks, alongside Dončić in the 2018 NBA Draft.
Luka Dončić receives a hilarious jab by Jalen Brunson during an interview. Getty ImagesJalen Brunson takes a hilarious jab at Luka Dončić during an interview. NBAE via Getty Images
The two developed a long-lasting friendship that still exists to this day.
Before Team USA took on Slovenia in a warm-up game during the 2023 FIBA World Cup, Brunson praised Dončić and called him his brother.
During the NBA Finals, Dončić revealed in an interview with the Spanish YouTube channel Drafteados that he texted Brunson, “Just one more,” as the Knicks were one game away from winning the NBA Finals.
When New York pulled off the 94-90 Game 5 victory over the Spurs, Brunson said Dončić reached out to him again and congratulated him on the championship.
Benhard Janse van Rensburg’s hopes of a try-scoring England debut were dashed by fumbling hands as France emerged conclusive 35-19 winners in their non-cap international in Vannes.
South Africa-born Janse van Rensburg was brought on in the 52nd minute and shortly after he was presented with a routine run-in, only for the ball to slip from his hands. The opportunity was England’s last chance to start reeling in a 28-12 deficit and otherwise the Bristol centre’s involvement was limited.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 27: D'Angelo Russell #5 of the Dallas Mavericks dribbles the ball up court against the Sacramento Kings in the second half of an NBA basketball game at Golden 1 Center on December 27, 2025 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Veteran guard D’Angelo Russell has opted in to his $6 million player option for the 2026-27 season, Jake Fischer reported Friday.
Per source: D’Angelo Russell has opted in to his 2026-27 player option with the Wizards worth $6 million.
Russell, 30, was acquired by the Wizards on Feb. 5 as part of a trade that sent Anthony Davis, Dante Exum and Jaden Hardy to Washington. He averaged 10.2 points and 4.0 assists across 26 games with Dallas last season.
Despite the trade, Russell never reported to the Wizards as the sides navigated a buyout agreement that never materialized. Wizards general manager Will Dawkins said the team and Russell spoke following the trade and agreed he wouldn’t report.
“With D’Angelo, we’ve talked to him, talked to his representatives. At the time, he’s not going to report as we try to figure out what’s best for him and us in our future,“ Dawkins said.
It’s possible Russell quickly becomes a trade piece for Washington, as it appears neither side is interested in the former All-Star playing significant, if any, minutes in a Wizards uniform this season.
If the Wizards re-sign Trae Young, which is considered very likely, the roster sits at 12 guaranteed contracts. If you include Jamir Watkins, who has a $2.15M team option that likely gets picked up, and the No. 1 pick, Washington is at 14 standard deals.
The Wizards also hold the No. 51 and No. 60 selections in the 2026 draft.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - APRIL 04: Brayden Burries #5 of the Arizona Wildcats dribbles the ball during the National Semifinal game of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament against the Michigan Wolverines at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 04, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors wrapped up another set of pre-draft workouts ahead of next Tuesday’s NBA Draft. Thursday’s crop was one of their most intriguing workouts yet, featuring Arizona guard Brayden Burries, Alabama guard Labaron Philon Jr., and Washington big man Hannes Steinbach.
Burries is one of the top guard prospects in the draft and has been a popular name linked to the Warriors throughout the pre-draft process. He is a versatile guard who would add size to Golden State’s backcourt alongside Stephen Curry, measuring 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds at the NBA Draft Combine. He also provides value as a perimeter shooter, knocking down 39.1% of his three-point attempts during his freshman season at Arizona.
Brayden Burries on his workout with the Warriors, what he wanted to show them and his potential fit if they draft him:
“I feel like as soon as I get here, I'll be able to show that impact winning outside of just scoring, you know, defending, rebounding, playmaking.” pic.twitter.com/z7RWgDzgnX
Philon, meanwhile, offers a different type of fit in the Warriors’ backcourt. The Alabama guard is a more dynamic creator off the dribble, with the ball-handling and scoring ability that helped him average 22 points per game during his sophomore season. However, Philon is considerably smaller than Burries, measuring 6-foot-2 and 176 pounds at the combine.
“My childhood, definitely had a lot of Curry jerseys.”
Alabama guard Labaron Philon Jr. on who he idolized growing up, his potential fit with the Warriors.
“Just a trustworthy guard that can, play inside the system, get guys open, share the ball, get paint touches.“ pic.twitter.com/yOslkp7kQG
Lastly, Steinbach is widely regarded as the top rebounding prospects in this year’s draft class. The 6-foot-10 freshman big averaged 11.8 rebounds per game last season, the most of any player in the country. He also possesses excellent hands and a high basketball IQ, giving him intriguing upside as a passer despite averaging just 1.6 assists per game.
I asked Hannes Steinbach 🇩🇪 if he thought his footwork and low post moves could translate to the Warriors system.
Steinbach said he thinks he can provide an inside scoring option while being able to pass out of the post. pic.twitter.com/EP7rO64qyk
With the draft now less than a week away, the Warriors will continue to evaluate a wide range of prospects as they weigh their options with the No. 11 overall pick. While Burries, Philon, and Steinbach bring very different skill sets to the table, each fills a potential area of need for a Golden State team set on adding young talent around its veteran core.
For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Friday, June 19th:
Most teams want to make sure their top pick has at least one elite trait, and Steinbach clearly does. His strong and massive hands help him be the best rebounder in the draft. Steinbach positions his body well and he just has a knack for the ball. He led the country in rebounds per game (11.8) and he also ranked second in the Big Ten with 126 offensive rebounds.
Golden State’s Kristaps Porziņģis is one of those players and league sources say that the sides are indeed progressing in talks on a new deal after the Warriors acquired Porziņģis and his expiring salary of nearly $31 million on Trade Deadline Day in February.
The Celtics have gone to great lengths to avoid the elephant in the room here, but Jaylen Brown would need to be part of any deal for Antetokounmpo. And if Boston had its way, the conversation would start and end there with a one-for-one swap of fellow All-Stars who are still in their respective primes (Antetokounmpo is 31; Brown is 29). Lest anyone forget, Brown is coming off his best season yet, finishing sixth in MVP voting.
During yesterday's @nyknicks Championship Parade, Jalen Brunson thanked the Knicks organization, the fans, and his family in his speech at City Hall!pic.twitter.com/OVAoKFXpcY
Given Golden State’s limited avenues to improve the roster, the depth of guards in this year’s draft class, and a quietly deep free agent crop of guards that could be in the non-taxpayer mid-level exception price range (Quentin Grimes, Ayo Dosunmo, Coby White, Benedict Mathurin, Landry Shamet, Keon Ellis, Norm Powell, Anfernee Simons, Collin Sexton, CJ McCollum, and De’Anthony Melton), the Warriors could be in position to improve their depth by trading Podziemski for another first-round pick, giving Will Richard an expanded role, and adding a proven guard in free agency.
A post to end the week:
Honoring the progress. Recognizing the work ahead.
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 28: The sneakers worn by Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round One Game Five of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 28, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
There are talks around the league that the Seattle Kraken could be open to trading the former fourth-overall pick at the 2022 draft, Shane Wright. The Montreal Canadiens are in need of a second-line center. Is there a fit there? It appears doubtful.
In the past, Kent Hughes has taken swings in his search for a second-line center. Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook were both projected to be centers, but neither of them panned out at that position. After a 44-point season with the Kraken in 2024-25, Wright’s production went down to just 27 points in 2025-26. His shooting percentage, face-off percentage, power play time on ice and overall time on ice have all gone down. He went from a 0.56 point-per-game average to a 0.36 point-per-game average.
When Hughes rolled the dice on Dach and Newhook, it was early in the Canadiens’ rebuild. They were in the assets accumulation phase; they had time to bet on potential alone. But it’s been three years since the GM landed Newhook, and the Habs have improved by leaps and bounds since then. They’ve made the playoffs in the last two years, reached the Eastern Conference Final, and their core has increased exponentially. Juraj Slafkovsky, Lane Hutson, and Ivan Demidov have all become important cogs in the Sainte-Flanelle’s machine.
Martin St-Louis and the coaching staff are no longer solely about development. Montreal is after results; the Habs brass wants this team to keep growing and improving, but they don’t have as much time to spend on development.
Yes, the Canadiens are after a second-line center, but they’re not after a player that has yet to prove himself in the NHL; they’ve passed that stage. They need someone who’s ready to slide into the line-up and assume an important role. That’s not Wright. Given his struggles, the Canadiens wouldn’t be doing him a favor by bringing him to Montreal. While the city lives and breathes hockey, it’s not the right setting for a young player who’s struggling with his confidence and came to the league with huge expectations, especially not now that the fans have had a taste of victory.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - NOVEMBER 30: Jaylon Tyson #20 of the Cleveland Cavaliers brings the ball up court during the second quarter against the Boston Celtics at Rocket Arena on November 30, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Cavs fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are counting on one of their younger prospects to take another step forward this summer. Whether it’s Jaylon Tyson, Tyrese Proctor, or their upcoming first-round pick, it’s important that one of them turns into a hit.
Earlier this week, asked you, the fans, who is the most important prospect out of that bunch. Here are the results.
An overwhelming majority chose Tyson. That might not be much of a surprise.
Tyson became a fan favorite last season through his hustle on the court. Bringing heart and toughness to this Cavalier team is the quickest way to win over the city.
But Tyson was more than just a junkyard dog. He took a huge leap forward as a three-point shooter and showed some skills in the pick-and-roll that make him an intriguing offensive prospect. The Cavs would love to see him continue to improve as a shooter while fleshing out the rest of his offensive game. His playmaking in the short roll, for example, leaves endless opportunities.
On paper, Tyson can be a highly valuable complementary piece moving forward. The fans seem to have taken notice.
Proctor is a distant second. But make no mistake, he’s someone whom I’d feel just as excited about. Proctor has good size and defensive instincts for his position. I trust his jumper is legit, and the more he can do on-ball, the more helpful he can be. I think there’s a chance Proctor can earn backup point guard minutes in his sophomore season.
Finally, the 29th pick in this year’s draft comes in last place. That’s because there’s simply no telling what to expect from a late first-round pick. None of us assumes that this pick will translate to anything tangible in the immediate future. Though it’s still important that whoever they select can develop into someone useful down the line.
Cleveland currently holds the 11th highest odds to win the title next season. They won’t get any higher if they strike out on all three of these prospects.
Thomas Haugh‘s decision to return to Florida after a breakout sophomore season sent shockwaves that reverberated throughout not only college basketball but the NBA as well. The consensus All-American forward announced his return to Gainesville in mid-April despite most projections listing the 6-foot-9 Haugh as a potential lottery pick in the upcoming 2026 NBA Draft.
And it turns out the NBA has one of its own to thank for that decision. Golden State Warriors veteran big man Draymond Green confirmed he advised Haugh to go back to Florida after learning what he could make in NIL. According to CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander, Haugh could exceed $10 million in NIL during the 2026-27 season, with roughly $8 million coming courtesy of the team’s NIL collective, Florida Victorious.
Haugh first revealed his conversation with Green last week after the Gators started summer workouts. It was an in-depth consultation with the four-time NBA champion, courtesy of their mutual friend, Warriors rookie Will Richard, who won the 2025 national title with the Gators.
“I was just like really up in the air about it,” Haugh told reporters, per GatorsOnline‘s Zach Abolverdi. “I kind of wanted to get like a perspective from like a player. And so, I called Will (for advice) … and then he’s like, ‘I’m actually going to add Draymond right now.’ And then we talked for like 45 minutes. It was pretty sick.”
Green revealed his side of the conversation with Haugh earlier this week on his podcast, The Draymond Green Show, citing the multitude of reasons a return to Gainesville was ultimately the right decision. And while the NIL money was an important factor, Green pointed to the potential legacy Haugh could establish by going back and potentially winning a second national championship at Florida.
Draymond on helping Thomas Haugh with his NBA Draft Decision
“When he (Will Richard) told me the number in millions that he'd make if he stayed at Florida, I was like "oh no question he should go back", once we got on the phone with Thomas the number was actually higher than… pic.twitter.com/aKkL5Gly30
— The Draymond Green Show (@DraymondShow) June 19, 2026
“We start talking about the number (Haugh) could possibly get if he went back, and when (Richard) told me the number in the millions that he’d make if he stayed at Florida, I was like, ‘Oh, no question he should go back,’” Green recalled this week. “When we got on the phone with Thomas, the number was actually higher then (what) Will had thought or had told me it was. But No. 1, Thomas grew up a Florida Gator fan, family are big time Gators fans, so Florida is his dream school. He’s won a national championship there, gonna come back next year and have an opportunity to win a second national championship possibly, and compete for national player of the year, and (then enter) a much weaker draft (in 2028).
“And he’s going to make really good money; that’s 1099 income as opposed to W2 income that NBA players make,” Green added. “And he’s going to solidify himself as one of the greatest Gators ever. I just don’t know how it gets much better than that.”
Of course, Green’s advice for Haugh didn’t stop there.
“One thing I told him, ‘Alright, but you’ve got to go do the work. You have to come back (to the NBA) next year better than you are right now. So you gotta go do the work, but I think it’s the right decision to go back to school,'” Green added. “I hope he has a great year, I’m praying for his health, and build that draft stock up even higher. Because I think he’s more than capable of doing that.”
Haugh’s return coincided with similar draft decisions from fellow juniors Alex Condon and Rueben Chinyelu. That has Florida among the leading favorites to win the 2027 national championship.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 18: Mohamed Diawara of the New York Knicks celebrates during the Championship ticker-tape parade on June 18, 2026 in New York City. The New York Knicks celebrate during the Championship ticker tape parade and victory rally celebrating winning the 2026 NBA Finals on June 18, 2026 in New York City. The New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs in five games to win their first NBA Championship in 53 years. (Photo by Craig T Fruchtman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A big shift that has occurred in the six years that Leon Rose has been in charge of basketball operations is one that naturally occurs when a team begins to compete. The priority shifts from development to winning now.
The year that Rose and company fully shifted from the youth movement to a veteran-ladened roster was 2023-24. Obi Toppin was traded to Indiana, RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley went to Toronto, Quentin Grimes went to Detroit. Four guys that seemed like key parts of the team’s future two years prior were out the door to supplement a core around Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle (later, Karl-Anthony Towns).
With draft assets being tossed around in these trades and others (particularly to get Mikal Bridges), the youth pipeline was completely shut off. All that was left was the occasional late first and a few seconds every so often.
You see them filling out the back end of these rosters with lottery tickets in these spots. The Tyler Kolek’s and Ariel Hukporti’s of the world. But with their most recent pick, No. 51 in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Knicks made their biggest upside play, and hope that they might’ve found a diamond in the rough for the future.
SAN ANTONIO, TX – JUNE 13: Mohamed Diawara #51 of the New York Knicks poses for a portrait after winning Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs on June 13, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Mohamed Diawara was born on April 29, 2005, in Paris, France. Basketball wasn’t his first love; soccer was, but a growth spurt, coupled with watching his sister play as a little kid, instilled a love for the game in him, resulting in him joining La Domremy Basket at the age of 13 and later joining the Saint-Charles Charenton youth team alongside Pacǒme Dadiet in 2020.
He made his senior debut with Paris Basketball in 2021 at the age of 16, but his minutes were sporadic over the next few years across both continental and LNB Pro A. As he continued to mature as a man and a basketball player, he had a hard time finding a role, eventually being loaned down to second-division Poitiers Basket 86 in December.
That summer, he left Paris to play full-time in LNB Élite, signing with Cholet Basket for the 2024-25 season to get a bigger role ahead of his draft eligibility year. NBA scouts had long noticed his talent, naming him the best player at a 2022 Basketball Without Borders event in Milan, but he needed to find out how to best put his skills on display. That summer, he won a gold medal with France’s U20 team at FIBA EuroBasket in Poland.
At Cholet Basket, he played 20 minutes a game, by far a career high, but he was limited to just 5.8 points and 3.1 rebounds a game on mediocre efficiency. He looked the part of a raw prospect, but he still decided to enter the 2025 NBA Draft, banking on his elite measureables to convince an NBA team to take a flier on him with their ever-growing addiction to drafting for traits over production.
The Knicks were scheduled to make their only draft selection at No. 50, but traded back one pick to allow the Clippers to come up and take Kobe Sanders. With the 51st pick, Diawara heard his name called, joining his old French teammate Dadiet in New York.
It was a relative surprise to see that this late-second round selection wasn’t a Eurostash and planned to compete for a roster spot. He showed some flashes on both ends in an overall forgettable Summer League for the Knicks and benefited from Brock Aller needing to dance around the second apron, which allowed him to get into training camp with an inside track at a guaranteed contract.
There, he impressed the coaching staff right away and earned his way onto the Opening Night roster after initially only signing an Exhibit 10 deal. He was very far down the depth chart, as you might expect, but with Mike Brown now in charge, maybe he’d get a chance other recent rookies didn’t?
It took until late November for him to get meaningful minutes, where he struggled against Orlando in a very sad game overall. A month later, in the NBA Cup hangover game in Indiana, he got his first career start with five regular rotation players ruled out.
Slowly, he was gaining more reps, even if the impact wasn’t there yet. Something seemed to click for him when he got a quick 3:40 stint on Christmas Day against Cleveland, which turned into his most impactful week of the season. He earned starts against Atlanta and New Orleans on the upcoming road trip with Josh Hart injured, with his 18-point performance against the Pelicans serving as the best game of his rookie year.
There were things holding him back, though. Despite tantalizing sequences with his defensive abilities, the team was struggling to defend anything during this time, killing his lineups. In the New Year’s Eve clash with the Spurs, Diawara earned the start but was limited to just six minutes. Why? Teams had enough film on him to start dissecting his weaknesses.
While he was a 40% shooter and a deadeye corner sniper in limited reps, there was some hesitancy with his shot. He also hadn’t shown an ability to attack driving lanes and make plays the way Hart does, so teams started utilizing ghost coverage, which played him off the court.
As a result, January was a month that saw him sink back into a deep reserve role as the team got healthier. He’d occasionally re-emerge when guys were banged up, but he seemed unprepared to attack the new way he was being defended.
He started getting more comfortable when he was called upon in early February. He played 15 critical minutes in a double-overtime win against the Nuggets, he started for a shorthanded Knicks squad in Detroit against the Pistons, and he looked great in a season-high 27 minutes against the Celtics just after the trade deadline.
Mohammed Diawara
2/8/2026
10 PTS | 3 REB | 1 AST | 1 STL | 100 FG%
The Knicks rookie gave fans reasons for excitement many times throughout the season including elite defense against Jaylen Brown and the Celtics along with perfect shooting pic.twitter.com/R9G2Vqgmr1
His most memorable game might’ve been his March 1 game against the same Spurs team that revealed the book on how to play him off the court. When called upon against Mitch Johnson’s ghost coverage, he attempted a staggering 13 three-pointers in 15 minutes and was a plus-18 in a blowout win.
By late March, the team had gotten fully healthy and, despite showing some real flashes, he was outside the 9 or 10-man circle of trust that Brown had heading into the playoffs. He didn’t play a single meaningful minute in the playoffs, even when OG Anunoby missed two games with injury.
The overall numbers don’t say anything special, but for a player who barely managed to sneak into the end of the second round, he had an impressive rookie season. Maybe he could’ve contributed to this championship run. Maybe the Knicks didn’t want to simultaneously risk rookie mistakes or buffing up the complicated contract situation that will result in him being a restricted free agent at the end of the month.
Regardless, Diawara is a champion. He joined an exclusive group of Muslim NBA players who would win a championship, and even managed to be featured alongside Mayor Mamdani in an article during Ramadan. If cap mechanisms can manage to keep him in New York going forward, he’s an exciting piece for when we’ll have to start thinking beyond this core of players.
(P&T will be doing player-by-player article tributes over the next few weeks to commemorate the special team that ended our long, half-century nightmare)
The Florida Panthers roster Aleksander Barkov and “Baby Barkov” Anton Lundell, but could they add another big, two-way Finnish center?
Oliver Suvanto has made headlines for his play in the top Finnish league this year, skating in 48 games while scoring two goals and 11 points. Suvanto and Tappara won the Liiga Championship, although Suvanto played just one playoff game.
Suvanto also earned a spot on Team Finland’s world junior roster as a 17-year-old, scoring twice as Finland lost in the bronze medal game.
While his numbers aren’t eye-popping, Suvanto has plenty of elements to his game that make him a very projectable NHLer. To begin, his best trait, like Barkov’s and Lundell’s, is his defensive game.
“Oliver Suvanto is the most complete and mature 17-year-old center seen in Liiga since Aleksander Barkov,” NHL Director of European Scouting Jukka-Pekka Vuorinen said. “He has already been trusted in key roles for powerhouse Tappara. His strong skating, balance and physical strength make him highly effective in face-offs, battles and defensive coverage. A natural two-way player, he combines reliability and intelligence, rarely making mistakes while consistently supporting both ends of the ice.”
He’s responsible in his own end, cutting down passing lanes and stealing pucks off his opponents with ease.
On the offensive side, Suvanto uses his body to gain positioning around the front of the net, and he’s continued to improve as a net-front presence. Another aspect of his game, similar to those of Barkov and Lundell, is his ability to protect the puck. Around the boards, he’s able to shield his opponents from the puck to create space. He’s a strong puck handler, but it’s the next step that Suvanto needs fine-tuning on.
Decision-making in high-danger areas.
Unlike Barkov, whose offensive game was already very polished by the time he entered the NHL, Suvanto takes after Lundell. Lundell posted strong results in Finland, but elements of his offensive game needed improvement. Still, at 24, the belief is that Lundell can still take his offensive game to another level.
Suvanto can follow the same path as Lundell. Suvanto is one of the youngest players in the draft, born on Sept. 3, 2008. With an impressive frame and polished defensive game, the Panthers can be patient with him and let his offensive game develop.
Suvanto considers Barkov a role model and someone he looks up to. Given their recent success in drafting players with profiles similar to Suvanto’s, they seem like a perfect match.
Drafting Suvanto at nine could be considered a bit of a reach, as most project him somewhere around the mid-teens. If the Panthers facilitate a trade back, they could still draft Suvanto while recouping more assets. Still, if the Panthers drafted Suvanto at nine, no one would bat an eye with their history of success.
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Another NBA Draft means another No. 1 overall pick, and the focus will be on which player NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announces first on Tuesday, June 23 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Per the Big Board of NBC Sports’ Raphielle Johnson, AJ Dybantsa of BYU is the leading candidate to be the first selection in the 2026 NBA Draft with Darryn Peterson (Kansas), Cameron Boozer (Duke), Caleb Wilson (North Carolina) and Darius Acuff Jr. (Arkansas) also high on the list.
Here's a look at the top selections in the NBA Draft dating back to 1947:
Complete list of first overall picks in the NBA Draft
Year
Player
College/HS/Club
NBA team
2025
Cooper Flagg
Duke
Dallas Mavericks
2024
Zaccharie Risacher
JL Bourg (France)
Atlanta Hawks
2023
Victor Wembanyama
Metropolitans 92 (France)
San Antonio Spurs
2022
Paolo Banchero
Duke
Orlando Magic
2021
Cade Cunningham
Oklahoma State
Detroit Pistons
2020
Anthony Edwards
Georgia
Minnesota Timberwolves
2019
Zion Williamson
Duke
New Orleans Pelicans
2018
Deandre Ayton
Arizona
Phoenix Suns
2017
Markelle Fultz
Washington
Philadelphia 76ers
2016
Ben Simmons
LSU
Philadelphia 76ers
2015
Karl-Anthony Towns
Kentucky
Minnesota Timberwolves
2014
Andrew Wiggins
Kansas
Cleveland Cavaliers
2013
Anthony Bennett
UNLV
Cleveland Cavaliers
2012
Anthony Davis
Kentucky
New Orleans Hornets
2011
Kyrie Irving
Duke
Cleveland Cavaliers
2010
John Wall
Kentucky
Washington Wizards
2009
Blake Griffin
Oklahoma
Los Angeles Clippers
2008
Derrick Rose
Memphis
Chicago Bulls
2007
Greg Oden
OhioState
Portland Trail Blazers
2006
Andrea Bargnani
Benetton Treviso (Italy)
Toronto Raptors
2005
Andrew Bogut
Utah
Milwaukee Bucks
2004
Dwight Howard
SACA Atlanta
Orlando Magic
2003
LeBron James
St.Vincent-St.Mary
Cleveland Cavaliers
2002
Yao Ming
Shanghai Sharks
Houston Rockets
2001
Kwame Brown
Glynn Academy (Georgia)
Washington Wizards
2000
Kenyon Martin
Cincinnati
New Jersey Nets
1999
Elton Brand
Duke
Chicago Bulls
1998
Michael Olowokandi
Pacific
Los Angeles Clippers
1997
Tim Duncan
Wake Forest
San Antonio Spurs
1996
Allen Iverson
Georgetown
Philadelphia 76ers
1995
Joe Smith
Maryland
Golden State Warriors
1994
Glenn Robinson
Purdue
Milwaukee Bucks
1993
Chris Webber
Michigan
Orlando Magic
1992
Shaquille O’ Neal
LSU
Orlando Magic
1991
Larry Johnson
UNLV
Charlotte Hornets
1990
Derrick Coleman
Syracuse
New Jersey Nets
1989
Pervis Ellison
Louisville
Sacramento Kings
1988
Danny Manning
Kansas
Los Angeles Clippers
1987
David Robinson
Navy
San Antonio Spurs
1986
Brad Daugherty
North Carolina
Cleveland Cavaliers
1985
Patrick Ewing
Georgetown
New York Knicks
1984
Hakeem Olajuwon
Houston
Houston Rockets
1983
Ralph Sampson
Virginia
Houston Rockets
1982
James Worthy
North Carolina
Los Angeles Lakers
1981
Mark Aguirre
DePaul
Dallas Mavericks
1980
Joe Barry Carroll
Purdue
Golden State Warriors
1979
Magic Johnson
Michigan State
Los Angeles Lakers
1978
Mychal Thompson
Minnesota
Portland Trail Blazers
1977
Kent Benson
Indiana
Milwaukee Bucks
1976
John Lucas
Maryland
Houston Rockets
1975
David Thompson
North Carolina State
Atlanta Hawks
1974
Bill Walton
UCLA
Portland Trail Blazers
1973
Doug Collins
Illinois State
Philadelphia 76ers
1972
LaRue Martin
Loyola
Portland Trail Blazers
1971
Austin Carr
Notre Dame
Cleveland Cavaliers
1970
Bob Lanier
St. Bonaventure
Detroit Pistons
1969
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
UCLA
Milwaukee Bucks
1968
Elvin Hayes
Houston
San Diego Rockets
1967
Jimmy Walker
Providence
Detroit Pistons
1966
Cazzie Russell
Michigan
New York Knicks
1965
Fred Hetzel
Davidson
San Francisco Warriors
1964
Jim Barnes
Texas Western
New York Knicks
1963
Art Heyman
Duke
New York Knicks
1962
Bill McGill
Utah
Chicago Zephyrs
1961
Walt Bellamy
Indiana
Chicago Zephyrs
1960
Oscar Robertson
Cincinnati
Cincinnati Royals
1959
Bob Boozer
Kansas State
Cincinnati Royals
1958
Elgin Baylor
Seattle
Minneapolis Lakers
1957
Hot Rod Hundley
WestVirginia
Cincinnati Royals
1956
Si Green
Duquesne
Rochester Royals
1955
Dick Ricketts
Duquesne
St. Louis Hawks
1954
Frank Selvy
Furman
Baltimore Bullets
1953
Ray Felix
Manchester (ABL)
Baltimore Bullets
1952
Mark Workman
West Virginia
Milwaukee Hawks
1951
Gene Melchiorre
Bradley
Baltimore Hawks
1950
Chuck Share
Bowling Green
Boston Celtics
1949
Howie Shannon
Kansas State
Providence Steam Rollers
1948
Andy Tonkovich
Marshall
Providence Steam Rollers
1947
Clifton McNeeley
Texas Wesleyan
Pittsburgh Ironmen
How many first overall picks won the MVP?
There have been 11 No. 1 overall selections in the NBA Draft who eventually won the MVP (which never has been won by a rookie):
Oscar Robertson (No. 1 overall in 1960; MVP in 1963-64)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (No. 1 overall in 1969; MVP in 1971-72, '73-74, '75-76, '76-77, '79-80,)
Bill Walton (No. 1 overall in 1974; MVP in 1977-78)
Magic Johnson (1979 Draft, MVP in 1986-87, '88-89, '89-90)
Hakeem Olajuwon (No. 1 overall in 1984; MVP in 1993-94)
David Robinson (No. 1 overall in 1987; MVP in 1994-95)
Shaquille O'Neal (No. 1 overall in 1992; MVP in 1999-00)
Allen Iverson (No. 1 overall in 1996, MVP in 2000-01)
Tim Duncan (No. 1 overall in 1997; MVP in 2001-02; '02-03)
LeBron James (No. 1 overall in 2003; MVP in 2008-09, '09-10, '11-12, '12-13)
Derrick Rose (No. 1 overall in 2008; MVP in 2010-11)
Who is considered the best first overall pick in NBA history?
Using the criteria of MVP awards and NBA championships, you take your pick between:
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (five MVP awards, six NBA championships)
Tim Duncan (two MVP awards, five NBA championships)
Magic Johnson (three MVP awards, five NBA championships)
LeBron James (four MVP awards, four NBA championships)
Shaquille O'Neal (one MVP award, four NBA championships)
Who is considered the worst first overall pick in NBA history?
The general consenus is probably Anthony Bennett, who started only four games with four teams over four seasons after being drafted first overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2013 NBA Draft.
The power forward from UNLV, who averaged 4.4 points and 3.1 rebounds over 151 games, was chosen 14 picks ahead of two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Other No. 1 overall flops were Greg Oden in 2007, Kwame Brown in 2001, Michael Olowokandi in 1998 and LaRue Martin in 1972.
Was Michael Jordan the first overall pick in the NBA draft?
No, Jordan was drafted third by the Chicago Bulls in 1984 behind Hakeem Olajuwon (Houston Rockets) and Sam Bowie (Portland Trail Blazers).
Every offseason produces at least one difficult decision, and this one might define the Colorado Avalanche's pursuit of another Stanley Cup.
Valeri Nichushkin is simultaneously one of the team's biggest strengths and one of its biggest uncertainties.
When he's healthy and on the ice, few power forwards in the NHL can match the combination of size, speed and relentless puck pursuit that has made him such an integral part of Colorado's identity. But injuries and off-ice setbacks have repeatedly interrupted what could have been one of the league's most dominant careers, leaving the Avalanche to answer a question that doesn't have an easy solution.
Do you move one of the best playoff performers in franchise history while he still carries significant value? Or do you trust that a healthy offseason finally allows him to become the player everyone inside the organization knows he can be?
There's a compelling case for both.
When Nichushkin is healthy, he is one of the most efficient and impactful skaters on Colorado's roster. He can score in bunches, and when he finds his rhythm, he has a tendency to take over games.
Nichushkin finished the season with 17 goals and 32 assists for 49 points in 72 games. He scored in just 12 of those contests, but four of them were multi-goal performances, including a hat trick on New Year's Eve in a 6-1 rout of the St. Louis Blues — the same night Nathan MacKinnon scored his 400th career NHL goal.
Beyond the production, Nichushkin does countless things that don't always show up on the scoresheet. He has underrated puck skills that allow him to carry the puck into the offensive zone with possession, his speed makes him one of Colorado's best forecheckers, and his combination of size and hockey IQ helps him win battles along the boards and extend offensive-zone time.
He's exactly the type of power forward every contender wants.
The problem is that he isn't always available.
In fact, Nichushkin shares an unfortunate distinction with Hockey Hall of Famer Mario Lemieux: he has never played a full 82-game season. The closest he came was during the 2013-14 and 2015-16 campaigns with the Dallas Stars. Throughout his career, injuries have consistently interrupted his seasons, and in recent years, so have off-ice issues.
On April 22, 2023, Avalanche staff found a heavily intoxicated woman in Nichushkin's room at the Four Seasons Hotel in Seattle before Game 3 of Colorado's first-round playoff series against the Kraken. The team doctor called emergency services, the woman was transported to a hospital, and Nichushkin abruptly left the team.
No criminal charges were filed against Nichushkin, but he returned to Denver and did not play again as Colorado's Stanley Cup title defense ended in seven games. Nichushkin later revealed he would have returned had the Avalanche advanced to the second round.
Less than a year later, in January 2024, Nichushkin entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program, and the Avalanche announced he would be away from the team indefinitely.
The program consists of four stages. Stage 1 involves an initial in-patient treatment program with no disciplinary penalty. A violation of the Stage 1 treatment plan moves a player into Stage 2, where he can be suspended without pay during active treatment before becoming eligible for reinstatement.
Stage 3, which follows a violation of the Stage 2 treatment plan, carries a suspension without pay for at least six months before reinstatement can be considered. Stage 4, following a violation of the Stage 3 treatment plan, results in a suspension of at least one year, with no guarantee of reinstatement.
Nichushkin completed treatment in late February 2024 and entered follow-up care under the Stage 2 treatment plan. He returned to the Avalanche on March 8 and still managed to finish the regular season with 28 goals.
Then came another setback.
After scoring nine goals in eight playoff games during Colorado's first-round series victory over the Winnipeg Jets, Nichushkin failed a drug test, was suspended for six months without pay, and entered Stage 3 of the Player Assistance Program.
Since returning, however, there have been no public issues. Head coach Jared Bednar repeatedly said throughout this past season that Nichushkin was in a great place mentally and had become an important presence inside the locker room.
That part of the story is often overlooked.
Nichushkin isn't someone who seeks the spotlight. If Nathan MacKinnon is quiet around the media, Nichushkin is even more reserved. Yet Bednar has spoken about how younger players gravitate toward him because he's approachable and easy to relate to. It's also no secret that he and goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood have developed a close friendship.
His statistical decline this season wasn't entirely his fault.
After Colorado's 4-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Nov. 11, Nichushkin had five goals and seven assists for 12 points in 17 games. In that game, though, he blocked a shot and suffered a lower-body injury that sidelined him for nearly a month.
Only a month after returning, Nichushkin was involved in a car accident on his way to the rink and missed a 5-2 victory over the Washington Capitals. He later dealt with an upper-body injury in early April before suffering another lower-body injury in Game 3 of the Western Conference Final. He missed the final 22 minutes of that game and Game 4 as Colorado was swept by the Vegas Golden Knights.
There may not have been a player more ready for the offseason than Nichushkin.
A healthy summer devoted entirely to recovery and conditioning could set him up for another productive campaign.
People also tend to forget what he has already sacrificed for the organization. Nichushkin has fought for this team, played through pain for this team and helped deliver a Stanley Cup.
During the 2022 Stanley Cup Final, he played Game 6 with a broken foot and still produced four goals and two assists in the series. Those four goals tied a franchise record shared by Joe Sakic and Alex Tanguay for the most in a Stanley Cup Final.
That's the version of Valeri Nichushkin the Avalanche are betting still exists.
Colorado could certainly explore moving his $6.125 million cap hit after creating additional flexibility with the Ross Colton trade. A left-shot defenseman or a younger, more physical forward could make sense on paper.
But there's another way to view it.
Nichushkin is 31 years old, not 36. His recent postseason numbers — five goals over his last two playoff appearances — don't erase the 19 goals he scored in the previous three postseasons, nor do they erase the reality that, when healthy, he remains one of the NHL's most dominant playoff wingers.
That's why the smarter approach may simply be patience.
Give Nichushkin a healthy offseason. See what he looks like over the first half of next season. If he returns to the player Colorado knows he can be, the Avalanche keep one of the league's most unique forwards. If not, his combination of production and contract certainty still makes him a valuable trade asset at the deadline.
If the Avalanche can find a way to retain Jack Drury and Brett Kulak while working within the nearly $7 million they have left in cap space, even better. The downside, however, is that it could leave Brent Burns as the odd man out.
But for a team with Stanley Cup aspirations, moving on from Valeri Nichushkin now might be the bigger gamble.
On Friday morning at the Jonathan Toews Sportsplex in Winnipeg, one of the most emotional moments of an already deeply moving retirement speech came when Toews began working his way through the teammates who defined his historic NHL career, and the first name mentioned was one that surprised nobody in Patrick Kane.
The two arrived in Chicago together, were drafted back to back in 2006, and spent the better part of 16 seasons as the engine behind one of the most celebrated dynasties in 21st century hockey.
From their rookie season in 2007 all the way through Kane's trade to the New York Rangers in 2022-23, Toews and Kane were one of the best duos the sport has ever seen, winning three Stanley Cups with the Blackhawks and built a bond that clearly ran far deeper than the rink.
"Kane came in with me as a rookie, we're kind of an odd couple for a lot of those years, especially when we were rooming together," Toews laughed.
"Going through the journey with a young player like himself definitely took the pressure off me, but at the same time, a guy like that is going to push you to get better and his commitment to the game and the career he's had. I get to look back and be thankful I got to play with a player like him."
Toews closed his NHL career having played 1,149 games, recording 383 goals and 529 assists for 912 points, numbers that tell only part of the story of a player whose value was always measured in championship rings and leadership as much as individual statistics.
Kane, meanwhile, is not yet finished writing his own chapter as the Detroit Red Wings winger put together a strong 2025-26 campaign, posting 57 points in just 67 games, and is widely expected to return to the ice next season despite not yet signing an extension with Detroit.
When he does return, he will carry a distinction that no other player in the league can claim, as the last remaining active player from those legendary Blackhawks teams, a living piece of hockey history skating on into a new era while his former partner steps away from the game for good.
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With the NBA offseason ongoing, it appears the Warriors are committed to acquiring another star to play alongside Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler.
The Warriors have expressed significant interest in acquiring Kawhi Leonard and have viewed Trey Murphy as another option, ESPN’s Anthony Slater reported.
Kawhi Leonard is drawing interest from the Warriors. NBAE via Getty Images
The interest in Leonard dates back to last season’s trade deadline, when a source confirmed to Slater that the Warriors attempted to trade for Leonard but were eventually told “no” by Clippers owner Steve Ballmer.
The reports of the Warriors’ interest in Leonard were doubled down on Friday morning as Sam Amick of The Athletic reported that the Warriors have Leonard in their “Plan A” list as they appear to be very interested in acquiring the two-time Finals MVP. But Amick noted that nobody in the NBA knows if Leonard is available.
As it remains unknown if Leonard is available, it appears more likely that Golden State could look into a trade with the Pelicans for Murphy. Golden State holds the 11th pick of the NBA draft, and reports have indicated the Pelicans are looking to move him for a pick in the top 20.
At 26 years old, Murphy is starting to come into his own as a young and promising forward after having a career high in average (21 points), with 5.7 total rebounds and 3.8 assists per game.
Murphy has been mentioned in other trade talk this summer; rumors have included him in a potential three-way trade between the Bucks and Celtics that is headlined by two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and former Finals MVP Jaylen Brown.
The Warriors are showing interest in acquiring Kawhi Leonard.
With the possibility of acquiring Murphy, Kevin O’Connor of “The Kevin O’Connor Show” reported that Golden State is more interested in acquiring Leonard.
“I do still think the Warriors still want Kawhi Leonard,” O’Connor said. “… Trey Murphy, as Anthony Slater says, seems to be just the more obtainable guy, but I don’t think this Warriors’ love for Kawhi Leonard has declined at all.”
At 34 years old last season, Leonard showed he can still play at a high level, averaging 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game.
Raphielle Johnson
