The 2026 NBA Draft has some of the most impressive one-and-done prospects in recent memory and lottery teams will have plenty of talent to pick from.

After the conclusion of the scouting combine in Chicago, talent evaluators are walking away with new opinions on some of the players after they completed measurements and athletic testing. Others, like Cameron Carr, were able to improve their stock by playing well during five-on-five pre-draft scrimmages. 75 total players participated in the drills with dozens more participating in the G League Combine.

Players can remain as early entry draft candidates through 11:59 p.m. ET on May 27 if they want to maintain their collegiate eligibility or they can return to college. The latest updates on those with big decisions are included below.

All heights and wingspans (as well as the distance between the two) are listed to the nearest inch and players were measured without shoes.

1. Washington Wizards: AJ Dybantsa

• TEAM: BYU
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Massachusetts
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• WINGSPAN: 7-1 (+4)
• DRAFT AGE: 19

The Wizards finished with the worst record in the NBA and benefited tremendously from a lottery win. They had the second-worst offense in the league and could instantly inject life into their offense by selecting AJ Dybantsa, the NCAA scoring champion and Julius Erving Award winner. While the battle for No. 1 is far from over, the former five-star recruit emphasized that point during his one game for BYU in March Madness, putting up 35 points and 10 rebounds. The Big 12 Rookie of the Year led the nation in unassisted points scored (680) by a wide margin this season, per CBB Analytics. The emerging star also had 40 points against Kansas State in the Big 12 Tournament on March 10 and averaged a stellar 28.8 points per game over his final 17 appearances. He would be a fascinating fit next to Trae Young and Anthony Davis, who could help him play alongside veteran talent early in his career.

2. Utah Jazz: Cameron Boozer

• TEAM: Duke
• POSITION: Forward
• BORN: Florida
• HEIGHT: 6-8
• WINGSPAN: 7-2 (+5)
• DRAFT AGE: 18

CBS Sports recently reported that folks at the combine spoke with the "same level of confidence" about Kansas freshman Darryn Peterson going No. 2 overall as they did about Dybantsa hearing his name first. However, this is far from a foregone conclusion. Duke freshman Cameron Boozer was dominant during his first NCAA season, earning national collegiate player of the year honors. The ACC Player of the Year isn’t a human highlight reel, though he performed well during athletic testing at the combine in Chicago. He offers consistency and a diverse, impactful skill set and can bring a culture of winning after multiple championships in high school and an elite Duke team that made it to the Sweet 16. It is important to note that his father, former Jazz player Carlos Boozer, currently works as a scout for Utah. Even if this is an awkward positional fit, the Jazz are building a much stronger core after trading for Jaren Jackson Jr. and drafting Ace Bailey.

3. Memphis Grizzlies: Caleb Wilson

• TEAM: North Carolina
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Georgia
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• WINGSPAN: 7-0 (+3)
• DRAFT AGE: 19

One general manager also told Jake Fischer that “every team” is going to have North Carolina freshman Caleb Wilson over either one of Dybantsa, Boozer, or Darryn Peterson. Yahoo’s Kevin O’Connor reported that some front office executives view Wilson with “similarly high upside” as Kansas freshman Darryn Peterson with “dramatically lower downsides” than the guard. The Memphis Grizzlies are unafraid to draft away from consensus and tend to like analytically-friendly prospects, so they're potentially one of those teams. Wilson did more than enough to earn this placement before his injury. According to Bart Torvik, before the injury, the All-ACC big man led the nation with 67 dunks recorded and was one of the best vertical athletes who tested at the combine in Chicago. He was also the only player under 20 years old to reach specific thresholds for both block, steal and defensive rebound percentage.

4. Chicago Bulls: Darryn Peterson

• TEAM: Kansas
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Ohio
• HEIGHT: 6-5
• WINGSPAN: 6-10 (+5)
• DRAFT AGE: 19

Bryson Graham, who was recently hired as the new executive vice president of basketball operations for the Bulls, has a simple task: Select whichever of the four players is still available. While he is certainly no longer perceived as the near-certain No. 1 overall pick that he once was due to relative inconsistency and injury issues, many scouts and evaluators still feel that Darryn Peterson is the most talented player in this class. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Woo, he has received “largely positive” feedback and was "quiet but serious" during the pre-draft interview process of the combine. Overall, it is incredibly rare to find a prospect who is able to score as efficiently as Peterson did while holding a usage rate as high as his was this season. 

5. Los Angeles Clippers: Kingston Flemings

• TEAM: Houston
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Texas
• HEIGHT: 6-3
• WINGSPAN: 6-4 (+1)
• DRAFT AGE: 19

The Clippers received this pick from the Indiana Pacers and when they are on the clock at No. 5 overall, look for them to potentially call on Houston freshman Kingston Flemings. The All-Big 12 guard has several games when he has recorded at least three steals, notching eight against Arizona State earlier this season. He scored 42 points against No. 11 Texas Tech on Jan. 24. Flemings helped lead Houston to the Sweet 16, and with highs as high as his were this season, it will not take long for him to hear his name called on draft night. Flemings measured with a 40.5-inch max vertical and elite speed across all his agility testing.

6. Brooklyn Nets: Keaton Wagler

• TEAM: Illinois
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Kansas
• HEIGHT: 6-5
• WINGSPAN: 6-6 (+1)
• DRAFT AGE: 19

During this rebuilding chapter, the Nets would love to add a player like Illinois standout Keaton Wagler. The 19-year-old guard played a crucial role in helping the Fighting Illini earn a spot in the Final Four, where he recorded 20 points and 8 rebounds against UConn in the national semifinals. The freshman also dropped 25 points in the Elite Eight. He projects as one of the best 3-point shooters in this class, shooting 39.7 percent from beyond the arc as a freshman, while connecting on as many as nine 3-pointers in a game. The Big Ten Rookie of the Year has athletic limitations but is a cerebral basketball player who averaged 5.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game this season. 

7. Sacramento Kings: Darius Acuff Jr.

• TEAM: Arkansas
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Michigan
• HEIGHT: 6-2
• WINGSPAN: 6-7 (+5)
• DRAFT AGE: 19

The Kings need a potential star and according to Yahoo's Kevin O'Connor, folks around the league "widely believe" they are targeting Arkansas freshman Darius Acuff Jr. right now.En route to the Sweet 16, the SEC Player of the Year proved he is one of the most enticing offensive prospects in recent memory. Acuff Jr. led the nation for points created (1,394) either by himself or through an assist, per CBB Analytics. The speedy guard led freshmen for field goals made in transition (72) and field goals made from both the left and right side of the court. He was among the freshmen leaders in alley-oop assists (17) as well. He has significant defensive deficiencies but is one of the most exciting offensive prospects in recent memory. It's also worth noting Kings executive Scott Perry coached Acuff's father in college.

8. Atlanta Hawks (via New Orleans Pelicans): Brayden Burries

• TEAM: Arizona
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: California
• HEIGHT: 6-4
• WINGSPAN: 6-6 (+2)
• DRAFT AGE: 20

With the pick the Hawks received from New Orleans, one potential target is Arizona freshman Brayden Burries. He was an exciting prospect to watch during the Big Dance, making it all the way to the Final Four and dropping 23 points against Arkansas. He had two breakout games in January, which helped solidify his draft stock. But the All-Big 12 guard continued to display his tantalizing talent, scoring 31 points with seven rebounds and five steals against Colorado on March 7 and 20 points with 12 rebounds and five assists during a victory against No. 14 Kansas on Feb. 28. He has proven productivity, and he is able to defend, relocate, move the ball and make 3-pointers off the dribble.

9. Dallas Mavericks: Yaxel Lendeborg

• TEAM: Michigan
• POSITION: Forward
• BORN: New Jersey
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• WINGSPAN: 7-3 (+7)
• DRAFT AGE: 23

The Mavericks had the worst offensive rating in the Western Conference and after hiring Masai Ujiri, they could benefit from a player as productive as Yaxel Lendeborg. He showed on his way to winning the national championship that he is perhaps the most NBA-ready player in this draft class. The Big Ten Player of the Year offers a bit of everything on both sides of the ball and has silenced skeptics who were unsure how his game would scale after transferring from mid-major UAB to high-major Michigan. While he is older than other players projected in the first round, his impact in college basketball was undeniable. He also had a strong "stocks" (steals plus blocks) rate and a plus wingspan, two things Ujiri often loves.

10. Milwaukee Bucks: Mikel Brown Jr. 

• TEAM: Louisville
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Florida
• HEIGHT: 6-4
• WINGSPAN: 6-8 (+4)
• DRAFT AGE: 20

The Milwaukee Bucks, potentially heading toward an ugly Giannis Antetokounmpo divorce, must simply draft the best player available with whatever pick they have and will likely keep Louisville floor general Mikel Brown Jr. highlighted on their big board. The All-ACC guard has deep shooting range and was among the freshmen leaders in 3-pointers made from beyond 25 feet (27) this year, per CBB Analytics. Brown was averaging 29.2 points per game over his last five appearances, including 45 points against NC State on Feb. 9, while hitting 10 shots from beyond the arc, before an injury on Feb. 28 forced him to miss March Madness. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Woo, some scouts feel Brown has the highest “upside” of the guards in this range.

11. Golden State Warriors: Karim López

• TEAM: International
• POSITION: Forward
• BORN: Mexico
• HEIGHT: 6-8
• WINGSPAN: 7-0 (+3)
• DRAFT AGE: 19

Karim López had a low usage rate and played fewer minutes than other players in this range while playing against pros, but was still very productive for the NBL Next Stars program in Australia. The Mexican-born forward is physically gifted, athletic, and universally seen as the top prospect from this class currently playing overseas. He exploded for 32 points (11-of-13 FG) with eight rebounds, two blocks and one steal against Melbourne on Jan. 30. Despite his age, he played a huge role for his team defensively for a team that won the NBL Ignite Cup. López measured well, weighing just shy of 222 pounds and 38-inch max vertical.

12. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Clippers): Aday Mara

• TEAM: Michigan
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Spain
• HEIGHT: 7-3
• WINGSPAN: 7-6 (+3)
• DRAFT AGE: 21

After winning the 2025 NBA Finals, the Oklahoma City Thunder could add even more lottery-caliber talent, like Michigan center Aday Mara. While leading his team to win the NCAA championship, Mara became one of the prospects who helped himself the most during March Madness. Oklahoma City tends to like low-usage big men with high assist percentages as well as high block and steal percentages. The 7-foot-3 big man, who transferred from UCLA, is a fantastic rim protector. Opponents only attempted 20.4 percent of their field goals at the rim when the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year was on the court, per CBB Analytics, which ranks near the lowest among all NCAA players. He could potentially hear his name called even higher than this, too, as teams look for large folks like Mara (who measured with a 9-foot-9 standing reach) to guard Victor Wembanyama.

13. Miami Heat: Labaron Philon 

• TEAM: Alabama
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Alabama
• HEIGHT: 6-3
• WINGSPAN: 6-6 (+4)
• DRAFT AGE: 20

The Heat could find a fairly compelling player in Alabama sophomore Labaron Philon. Even though the All-SEC guard was not playing at 100 percent during March Madness due to injury issues, he played well in the tournament, recording 35 points during a loss against Michigan. He also notched 29 points in his first-round game and 12 assists in his second. The guard averaged 22.0 points per game this season, and he improved his 3-point shooting from 31.5 percent as a freshman to 39.9 percent as a sophomore, while also managing 5.0 assists per game in the process.

14. Charlotte Hornets: Cameron Carr

• DRAFT AGE: 21
• TEAM: Baylor
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Minnesota
• HEIGHT: 6-5
• WINGSPAN: 7-1 (+8)

The player who improved his draft stock the most during the combine was Baylor junior Cameron Carr. He scored 30 points in a five-on-five scrimmage, recorded a 42.5-inch max vertical and had great physical measurements. This should grab the attention of teams that tend to like athletic prospects like the Hornets. The All-Big 12 wing brings sincere athleticism and shooting and, per Bart Torvik, he was the only player to make at least 40 field goals that were dunks and more than 60 field goals that were 3-pointers this season. Baylor outscored opponents by an additional 28.5 points per 100 possessions when he was on the floor relative to when he was not, via CBB Analytics, which ranked as the fourth-most of any high-major player in the NCAA. 

15. Chicago Bulls (via Trail Blazers): Hannes Steinbach

• TEAM: Washington
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Germany
• HEIGHT: 6-10
• WINGSPAN: 7-2 (+4)
• DRAFT AGE: 20

The Chicago Bulls received this additional pick because the Portland Trail Blazers advanced past the play-in tournament. This is about the range of German big man Hannes Steinbach, who reportedly turned down NIL opportunities “worth up to $10 million” rather than return to college. While his Washington team missed the tournament, the All-Big Ten post is an instinctive rebounder with great hands, including an absurd 24 rebounds against USC on March 4. Additionally, the center is one of the more prolific pick-and-roll finishers in college basketball. He shone during the FIBA U19 World Cup, too, and scouts love that he is a smart basketball player who can make great reads. 

16. Memphis Grizzlies (via Suns): Joshua Jefferson 

• TEAM: Iowa St.
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Nevada
• HEIGHT: 6-8
• WINGSPAN: 6-11 (+3)
• DRAFT AGE: 22

The Grizzlies will have another first-round pick thanks to the Desmond Bane trade and may have their eyes on Iowa State forward Joshua Jefferson, who reportedly had a pre-draft workout with the organization. A few years ago, research indicated that the Grizzlies tend to value a few statistical similarities in their draftees: Efficient shot selection, added value beyond scoring and defensive playmaking. For the second year in a row, the All-Big 12 forward was an impactful dribble-pass-shoot forward who met many of the qualifications that led Memphis to find players who spent many years on their roster. The Grizzlies are not afraid to draft away from consensus and have shown a willingness to pick older, more experienced players in the past. Perhaps they trade back to get him, but he fits their profile.

17. Oklahoma City Thunder (via 76ers): Nate Ament

• TEAM: Tennessee
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Virginia
• HEIGHT: 6-10
• WINGSPAN: 7-0 (+2)
• DRAFT AGE: 19

While the Thunder may not actually use this pick because they have such an abundance of talent on its roster already, this is a fair range for Tennessee freshman Nate Ament. The forward reportedly considered returning to college to aim for the No. 1 pick in the 2027 NBA Draft. His decision to declare for this class, instead, suggests he is likely comfortable with the feedback he has received so far. The freshman averaged 21.6 points per game, while shooting 38.9 percent on 3-pointers, during a 13-game stretch before an injury against Alabama on Feb. 28. The All-SEC forward then had 27 points (4-of-6 on 3-pointers) with eight rebounds, four assists, three blocks and a steal against Auburn on March 12. He was not as efficient during March Madness, but it will only take one team to fall in love with Ament, and that team is likely picking this forward with a standing reach exceeding 9-foot-1 near the lottery.

18. Charlotte Hornets (via Magic): Morez Johnson Jr.

• TEAM: Michigan
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Illinois
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• WINGSPAN: 7-4 (+7)
• DRAFT AGE: 20

Morez Johnson Jr. is one of the best two-way players in the NCAA. He was a crucial part of the Michigan identity this season, leading his team to win the NCAA championship game, and has thrived since transferring to the Wolverines from Illinois. Johnson's shooting form at the free-throw line looks good, and he scores well near the rim, especially when cutting to the basket. The former FIBA U-19 Team USA standout and All-Big Ten big man is a trustworthy defensive playmaker, too, and should carve out minutes at the next level. Johnson was a winner during measurements at the combine, recording a 39-inch max vertical and testing with elite agility for his position.

19. Toronto Raptors: Bennett Stirtz

• TEAM: Iowa
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Missouri
• HEIGHT: 6-3
• WINGSPAN: 6-6 (+4)
• DRAFT AGE: 22

The Raptors need another guard and should have Bennett Stirtz, who reportedly has a workout scheduled with the franchise, on their priority list. After transferring from Division II to a mid-major and then to a high-major program, he is at the top of the class in creating his own shot off the dribble in isolation or the pick-and-roll. The All-Big Ten guard can also finish plays from dribble handoffs. His play during March Madness, which included 24 points against Illinois and 20 points against Nebraska, earned a spot in the Elite Eight. The Raptors play at a slow pace, which would translate well for Stirtz, who did the same at Iowa. 

20. San Antonio Spurs (via Hawks): Ebuka Okorie

• TEAM: Stanford
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: New Hampshire
• HEIGHT: 6-1
• WINGSPAN: 6-8 (+7)
• DRAFT AGE: 19

Stanford freshman Ebuka Okorie is an interesting early entry candidate in the 2026 NBA Draft. The first-team All-ACC guard was a day-one starter in the NCAA who is potentially capable of earning rotation minutes for a team like the 76ers. He averaged 23.2 points per game, recording 40 points against conference rival Virginia Tech and seven other games with at least 30 points. Okorie has earned serious first-round buzz and should intrigue the Spurs, who often fall in love with players who boast a high assist-to-turnover ratio like he did (2.3) last season. He told reporters there is "no chance" he is returning to school next season.

21. Detroit Pistons (via Timberwolves): Koa Peat 

• TEAM: Arizona
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Arizona
• HEIGHT: 6-7
• WINGSPAN: 6-11 (+4)
• DRAFT AGE: 19

The Detroit Pistons have drafted several prospects capable of contributing to an elite defense, which means a player like Arizona forward Koa Peat will probably have some appeal to the organization. He is athletic with good positional size and length. Peat is also a solid rebounder and passer for his position. The All-Big 12 forward will desperately need an improved jumper to carve out regular minutes as a high-impact pro. "Speculation" about a return to Arizona and head coach Tommy Lloyd has reportedly "increased" recently.

22. Philadelphia 76ers (via Rockets): Dailyn Swain 

• TEAM: Texas
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Ohio
• HEIGHT: 6-7
• WINGSPAN: 6-10 (+4)
• DRAFT AGE: 20

After transferring from Xavier to Texas during the offseason and then leading his team to the Sweet 16, Dailyn Swain became one of the more intriguing breakout players in college basketball. The All-SEC forward is versatile and contributed a little bit of everything for the Longhorns on both sides of the ball, scoring well both in the paint and on fastbreaks. Another element that is notably compelling is that Swain is efficient one-on-one in isolation against his defenders. He is quick, bouncy, a solid rebounder and his 81.5 percent free-throw percentage indicates he has good shooting form. While he has three years of college experience, at 20 years old, he is the same age as a few NCAA freshmen. Swain told reporters he is "two feet in" about turning pro and decided to withdraw from the second day of pre-draft scrimmages.

23. Atlanta Hawks (via Cavaliers): Chris Cenac Jr. 

• TEAM: Houston
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Louisiana
• HEIGHT: 6-10
• WINGSPAN: 7-5 (+7)
• DRAFT AGE: 19

It was an up-and-down season for former five-star recruit and McDonald's All-American Chris Cenac Jr. at Houston. He did, however, get hot at the perfect time. During his first game in the Big Dance, the big man recorded a season-high 18 rebounds, while also knocking down a 3-pointer and grabbing a steal. Then in the Round of 32, he showed off more scoring with some impressive cuts to the basket, dropping 17 points against Texas A&M. He was quieter in the Sweet 16 but still managed 10 rebounds. Cenac told reporters he is “fully committed” to the NBA Draft and had great measurements at the combine, recording a 37-inch max vertical and a very impressive agility.

24. New York Knicks: Allen Graves 

• TEAM: Santa Clara
• POSITION: Forward
• BORN: Louisiana
• HEIGHT: 6-8
• WINGSPAN: 7-0 (+4)
• DRAFT AGE: 20

One of the most under-the-radar prospects in all of college basketball this season was Santa Clara freshman Allen Graves, who was nearly a March Madness hero. It was hard not to notice the WCC Rookie of the Year and Sixth Man of the Year after he scored 30 points with 13 rebounds, four assists and two steals Feb. 7 against Washington State. The only players under 21 years old who held a higher box plus-minus, via Bart Torvik, were Cameron Boozer and Caleb Wilson. He declared early entry for the 2026 NBA Draft but also entered his name in the transfer portal and could return to school. If he returns to college, he is reportedly most seriously considering LSU and Duke and added that Kentucky also reached out to his agents.

25. Los Angeles Lakers: Jayden Quaintance

• TEAM: Kentucky
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Ohio
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• WINGSPAN: 7-5 (+8)
• DRAFT AGE: 18

Jayden Quaintance recorded just one start during his sophomore campaign as he recovered from a torn ACL, meniscus and fractured knee. The big man is still one of the youngest players in this class, but he has shown flashes during his time at Arizona State and Kentucky. When healthy, he is arguably the most talented defender in this draft class and could help a team that desperately needs frontcourt help, like the Hornets. But health may cause some concern for evaluators. During his freshman year when he was just 17 years old, per CBB Analytics, he led all D-I players in blocks per 40 minutes (0.7) on 3-pointers.

26. Denver Nuggets: Christian Anderson 

• DRAFT AGE: 20
• TEAM: Texas Tech
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Georgia
• HEIGHT: 6-1
• WINGSPAN: 6-6 (+5)

The Denver Nuggets tend to look for players with a strong assist-to-usage ratio because they rely on high-efficiency passing and off-ball movement. Texas Tech sophomore Christian Anderson is a potentially perfect fit. After moving from the two-guard to point guard, the All-Big 12 Most Improved Player recorded more than twice as many assists per 100 possessions as a sophomore compared to when he was a freshman. Anderson managed to do that while also scoring well on spot-up possessions and handoffs. Anderson said he’s “100% invested in [the draft],” but he reportedly "didn’t completely shut down the chance" to go back to school.

27. Boston Celtics: Milan Momcilovic

• TEAM: Iowa St.
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Wisconsin
• HEIGHT: 6-8
• WINGSPAN: 6-9 (+1)
• DRAFT AGE: 21

Former Iowa State forward Milan Momcilovic may decide to stay in college and use the transfer portal, but if he does turn pro, he will have options. Boston tends to favor players with a high effective field goal percentage, low turnover percentage and low usage rate. They also like players who make quick decisions on catch-and-shoot opportunities and on corner 3-pointers. Momcilovic scored 297 points when shooting off the catch, per Synergy, which ranked fifth-best among D-I players last season. He also matched 28 corner 3-pointers, according to CBB Analytics, which trailed the top-ranked player (34) by just four field goals made.

28. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Pistons): Tyler Tanner 

• TEAM: Vanderbilt
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Tennessee
• HEIGHT: 5-11
• WINGSPAN: 6-4 (+6)
• DRAFT AGE: 20

It is unusual to find a sophomore under 6-foot projected in the first round of a mock draft, but if there were ever a player who has earned that kind of praise should he decide to turn pro after this season, it's Tyler Tanner. Despite his size, the All-SEC guard found meaningful ways to contribute on both sides of the floor. He can score efficiently, dunk, block shots, steal the ball, and he is more than serviceable as a floor general capable of earning rotation minutes for a team like the Timberwolves. Tanner could also return to school, but he will continue to receive first-round buzz if he stays in the draft after the early entry withdrawal deadline. 

29. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Spurs): Henri Veesaar

• TEAM: North Carolina
• POSITION: Forward
• BORN: Estonia
• HEIGHT: 6-11
• WINGSPAN: 7-2 (+3)
• DRAFT AGE: 22

We have seen a remarkable improvement from Henri Veesaar after transferring from Arizona to North Carolina. The 7-foot big man from Estonia has an excellent shot diet on offense. The All-ACC big man is scoring efficiently at the rim (especially when cutting or rolling) and on 3-pointers, while also holding his own as a rebounder and passer. Any team looking for a big man who can provide NBA minutes will have him high on their priority list. He presumably feels comfortable with his draft range, considering he was reportedly offered “at least $6 million” in the transfer portal, per CBS Sports.

30. Dallas Mavericks (via Thunder): Tarris Reed Jr. 

• TEAM: Connecticut
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Missouri
• HEIGHT: 6-10
• WINGSPAN: 7-4 (+7)
• DRAFT AGE: 22

UConn senior Tarris Reed Jr. helped himself quite a bit during the NCAA tournament en route to an appearance in the national championship game. He recorded four double-doubles during March Madness, notching 31 points and 27 rebounds against Furman. Reed also had 26 points with 9 rebounds, 4 blocks and 2 steals during a win over Duke. During the combine, he did the dirty work, recording 5 rebounds with 1 steal and 1 block in his first game and then scored 117 points (7-of-9 FG) with 5 rebounds and 2 blocks in the second. Reed also tested with elite agility for his position. Expect him to come into the league and find a role sooner, especially considering his paint dominance, rather than later.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2026 NBA mock draft: Latest update before early entry withdrawals

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The New York Knicks haven’t faced much resistance in nearly three weeks. The Cleveland Cavaliers are aiming to do more than just stay competitive, but even a close game could create betting value for us.

These Cavaliers vs. Knicks predictions and NBA picks expect a quality Game 1 tonight.

Best Cavaliers vs Knicks props for Game 1

Player	Pick
Jalen Brunson	Over 6.5 assists	+110
Jarrett Allen	Over 12.5 points	-115
Karl-Anthony Towns	Over 1.5 threes	+145

Game 1 Prop #1: Jalen Brunson Over 6.5 assists

+110 at bet365

We, as a basketball community, probably did not properly appreciate that seven-game series from the Pistons and the Cleveland Cavaliers. That was the good stuff, even if Game 7 ended in a rout.

Detroit leaned heavily on Cade Cunningham, perhaps too heavily, but with good reason. Even on a lineup devoid of a second scorer or enough perimeter shooting, Cunningham averaged 7.9 assists in that series.

The New York Knicks do not need to rely on Jalen Brunson as heavily for all things offense, but he is still clearly their focal point and initiator. Expect Brunson’s assist numbers to spike in this series, frequently able to get past Cleveland’s perimeter defenders, but then faces quality rim defenders.

Game 1 Prop #2: Jarrett Allen Over 12.5 points

-115 at bet365

One of those quality rim defenders found his groove offensively late in that series against the Pistons. Jarrett Allen struggled to start the series, going just 1-for-4 in 18 minutes in Game 1, but he averaged 17.3 points in the final three games, clearing this points prop each time.

Allen needed to find his space against a physical center like Jalen Duren.

He should not have that same issue against the Knicks. Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson both bring their own qualities, but neither is as physical a presence as Duren.

Game 1 Prop #3: Karl-Anthony Towns Over 1.5 threes

+145 at bet365

This is simply too rich a price to be ignored. Karl-Anthony Towns hit multiple 3-pointers in two of four games last series and has done so in four of 10 games this postseason while shooting an absurd 48.3% from deep.

Realize, he hit multiple 3-pointers in two of the four games last round despite never playing even 28 minutes in that lopsided series. A similar limitation fell on the final three games of the first round.

If Cleveland can actually keep things competitive, Towns should attempt five or six 3-pointers. At that point, there would also be value in betting on him to hit three triples, available at +500 at bet365.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

After going through the NBA Draft process — including putting on a show at the NBA Combine — forward Morez Johnson Jr. is officially staying in the draft and will not return to Michigan next season, he told ESPN.

“From Day 1, coach (Dusty) May told us he was going to help develop us on and off the court, and the goal was to win a national championship,” Johnson told ESPN. “We accomplished that mission. I am excited to chase my lifelong dream of playing in the NBA.”

Johnson played in all 40 games this past season for the maize and blue, averaging 13.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 62.3 percent from the field and 34.3 percent from three. He leaves college on a major high note, putting up 12 points and 10 rebounds in the National Championship vs UConn.

Following the conclusion of the season, Johnson — along with fellow Wolverine big man Aday Mara — declared for the 2026 NBA Draft while maintaining his collegiate eligibility. He went through the NBA Combine and impressed attendees by measuring in at 6-foot-9 (barefoot) and 251 pounds. He also has a 7-foot-3 wingspan and an 8-foot-11 standing reach. Additionally, Johnson had the highest maximum vertical (39 inches) among all forwards at the event.

Perhaps what impressed folks the most was his shooting, as he drained 17-of-25 three-pointers at the Combine. Johnson only went 12-of-35 on three-pointers all of last season, so to make them at a 68 percent clip — albeit a small sample size — is exactly what NBA front offices wanted to see out of him.

With Johnson officially done at the college level, Dusty May and company have one roster spot remaining for the 2026-27 season. May spoke about that with Andy Katz when the two of them were at the NBA Combine and how they would be “prepared to pivot” in the event Johnson stays in the draft.

“We have one (open roster) spot — we’re just waiting and taking a wait-and-see approach with Morez and certainly anticipating him having a difficult decision because of how well he’s played in Chicago,” May said. “But we’ll support him, and then if he does stay in, we’ll be prepared to pivot. We like our team regardless, but obviously, he raises our ceiling like (Yaxel Lendeborg) did last year.”

It’s unclear whether May will get another player through the portal, the high school ranks, or internationally, but it sounds like he and his staff have a plan in place to put their best foot forward for next season.

In the meantime while we wait on those developments, we wish Johnson nothing but the best as he pursues his dreams of being an NBA player.

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Bulls have hired Stephen Mervis and Acie Law IV for the team's revamped front office under Bryson Graham.

The Bulls announced the additions on Tuesday. Mervis was hired as senior vice president of basketball operations and Law's title is vice president of player personnel.

Graham took over as the team's executive vice president of basketball operations after he was hired this month. He spent this season as Atlanta’s senior vice president of basketball operations after a 15-year run in New Orleans’ front office.

Mervis' responsibilities include salary cap strategy and analytics, and Law is responsible for the draft and scouting. Law, who appeared in 12 games for the Bulls during his four NBA seasons, also will be involved in “all player personnel matters,” according to the team's release announcing the moves.

Chicago went 31-51 this season while missing the playoffs for the fourth straight year. It has the No. 4 pick in the upcoming NBA draft, and one of the next big tasks for the front office is finding a coach to replace Billy Donovan.

Mervis spent the last 12 seasons with the Orlando Magic, most recently as assistant general manager.

Law was the director of player personnel for the Brooklyn Nets this season. He also worked for the Oklahoma City Thunder for three seasons from 2022-25, helping the team win the championship last year.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Evolution is inevitable in just about everything, and sports are no exception. Sometimes you’ll get a Stephen Curry or a Victor Wembanyama, and it’s great. Other times, you’ll get a three-team format in the NBA All-Star Game that nobody understands, cares to understand, or has the tolerance to watch from start to finish while getting force-fed more gambling ads than Kevin Hart has been paid for.

So it’s not always great.

Years ago, the sports media landscape didn’t just make sports fun — it did its job without abusing the trust of fans, players, or the teams it covered.

If you grew up in the 1990s, you experienced what’s widely considered the golden age of televised sports. You watched the late, great Stuart Scott share the SportsCenter desk with Rich Eisen. In the 2000s, you attributed Chris Berman’s voice and the words “back, back, back” to MLB’s Home Run Derby. Or you remember the iconic “This is SportsCenter” commercials that showcased some of ESPN’s best creativity.

Go to YouTube and search “This is SportsCenter,” and you’ll immediately fall into a rabbit hole of classics. Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen asking Scott Van Pelt for nickname help in ESPN’s office. David Ortiz trying on Jorge Posada’s New York Yankees hat, nearly giving Wally the Green Monster a heart attack as he walks by. Or, of course, the one where Michael Phelps gets annoyed that one of his eight Olympic medals is being used as a coffee mug coaster, prompting Jay Harris to shrug: “It’s just a bronze.”

The nostalgia wasn’t retrospective; we knew it was special while we were living in it. Now, those days feel so far gone it’s almost hard to imagine they ever existed based on what we’re consuming today.

Jaylen Brown’s ongoing criticism of sports media best illustrates the current landscape’s trajectory — and it’s not hard to see why.

Brown and the Boston Celtics suffered a historic collapse to end their season by blowing a 3-1 series lead to the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of this year’s NBA Playoffs. Brown immediately vented on Twitch less than 24 hours after the team’s Game 7 home loss, unloading on various topics while reflecting on the season as a whole. He pointed the finger at Joel Embiid for flopping and claimed he had inside information that officials were colluding against him, yet labeled the season his “favorite.”

Was it the best way to digest the loss? Probably not. However, that doesn’t justify the way ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith used Brown’s livestream as fodder for repeated segments.

If Smith had simply claimed Brown hadn’t gone about the loss as best as he could, that would’ve been fair game. The problem with Smith, however, is that “fair game” is way too vanilla for him. Smith doesn’t make $100 million by being impartial or keeping himself in check. The suits he wears on First Take are a thin layer of professionalism to help mask the mudslinging circus ESPN airs every morning.

But whether it’s an Armani suit or a $15 tank top while screaming into a microphone with his buddies, it doesn’t matter. It makes zero difference. Being reasonable doesn’t get Smith animated or hyperventilating while his protégé, former Celtic Kendrick Perkins, sits back and learns from the goofiest in the business before getting his turn to perform on stage.

It’s not journalism — it’s theater.

On Monday morning, Smith had his turn to address Brown’s latest livestream during which the Celtics star — on several occasions — shouted, “F*ck Stephen A.”

“Man, f*ck Stephen A. Stephen A, Stephen B, Stephen C,” Brown said during his Sunday night Twitch stream. “My offer still stands. You want me to be quiet and stop streaming. Well, I want you to be quiet and get off these networks because you’re not using your platform to do real journalism. You’re using your platform to use clickbait.”

The reason Brown reacted so strongly wasn’t because Smith called out the Celtics for choking in Round 1. It was because Smith used conclusive thinking to manipulate an audience into believing a handful of assumptions that have no backing.

For example, Smith gave himself a pat on the back for landing a Jayson Tatum appearance on First Take during his rehab — and alluded to the idea that an existing divide between Tatum and Brown explains why Tatum hasn’t made an appearance on Brown’s livestream.

You might assume that someone with Smith’s connections would float that insinuation based on something he’s been told. Only during that same segment Monday morning, Smith threatened Brown directly by claiming he’d do some dirt-digging to find the exact information he suggested was tucked away in his back pocket.

“Jaylen Brown, be careful what you wish for,” Smith threatened on First Take. “You really want me to start reporting on that level? You understand? Locker room. How the organization might think about you. How the city might feel about you. How Jayson Tatum may or may not feel about you. Sneaker deals. Endorsement deals. The list goes on.”

Smith took it a step further, using Tatum as a comparison point to elevate Brown’s shortcomings in the narrative. He mentioned how Tatum has a sneaker deal and a commercial, but leaves out the fact that Brown turned down a $50 million endorsement deal from Nike — opting to instead launch his own brand, 741 Performance — and headlined an NBA playoffs commercial of his own just a few weeks ago.

That’s either deliberate narrative manufacturing or sincere ignorance.

If you watch Smith try to commentate on the NFL, NHL, or MLB (look up his comments about Shohei Ohtani from 2021), you wouldn’t be able to identify which one it is.

Smith argues that because he’s labeled Brown worthy of league MVP consideration and defended him after his second-quarter ejection against the San Antonio Spurs, it absolves him of everything else he says. That’s the issue. Smith will hurl five different conclusions on the loudest airwaves in sports media, then turn around and hand-pick one as the reason for your response. It’s not even logical.

Basically, Smith is suggesting that criticism of all forms is fair game, but if you respond, he’ll throw a Tony Montana fit at your expense — even if it means spreading disinformation he finds on social media. He’s become a loose cannon, enabled by ESPN to garner as much viewership as possible, even if it means getting his information from the satirical social media page Ballsack Sports (yes, that’s happened several times before).

There was plenty of room to criticize Brown in a way that’s fair, objective, and in bounds. But again, that’s journalism, and ESPN would rather direct message journalists for locker room video clips instead of hiring journalists outright.

That’s the magic touch of Walt Disney!

If you caught 98.5 The Sports Hub’s “Felger & Mazz” on Monday, you’d notice a continuation of Smith’s oversimplified framing. Michael Felger, Tony Massarotti, and Jim Murray added their two cents on the Brown-Smith feud, speaking without the context needed for a fully informed discussion.

“I just don’t know why he’s so over-the-top antagonistic,” Felger said.

If that doesn’t describe Smith’s last two decades at ESPN, nothing really does. Let’s be honest.

“He’s just putting together a world salad,” Murray said. “What he’s really saying and what he means is ‘I don’t like what you’re saying about me.’ That’s it.”

The irony is hard to ignore: defenders of Smith often overlook how quickly he lashes out when an athlete refuses to validate him. The same man who, because he frequently appears on Fox News, actually believes he’s qualified to run for president if he ever chooses to do so.

Now, was it hypocritical of Brown to say he doesn’t care for the opinions of those who haven’t played, while hosting Celtics fans on his livestream to hear their perspectives? Sure. Is co-signing Carmelo Anthony’s proposal to substitute postgame press conferences with livestreams ridiculous? Absolutely. But that’s not the conversation Smith had, so he loses credibility. The standard needs to be applied consistently on both sides of the aisle.

There’s no mention of Smith, a 58-year-old man cosplaying as an unhinged cartel kingpin, because Brown called him out. There’s no mention of Smith’s deliberate lies about Brown’s inability to generate revenue through commercials or sneaker deals. There’s no mention of Smith gloating about Tatum’s First Take appearance being an unrelated, irrelevant talking point — and it comes off as intentional.

Felger, Massarotti, and Murray aren’t ignorant — they’re being disingenuous by choice. Smith has built his name by often substituting traditional journalistic standards with sensationalism. That’s no secret. He spent weeks amplifying the LaVar Ball storyline to boost viewership, used criticism of Bronny James as a springboard to question LeBron James’ role as a father, and also spread misinformation about Kobe Bryant’s memorial service, telling ESPN’s audience that LeBron didn’t attend before being debunked the same day.

He didn’t misspeak; he overspoke. Because in today’s my-take-your-take culture, it’s about being the loudest and most confident, even if what you’re saying is wrong and flat out stupid.

For years, Smith used Kwame Brown as a punching bag. Not because Brown’s name warranted the coverage, but because he was an easy target as a former No. 1 pick who didn’t pan out.

He’s a one-trick pony, and it’s been that way for years. And just because most don’t dare to call a spade a spade, doesn’t make it anything different.

Brown’s point stands, and it’s a sentiment that he didn’t birth overnight.  

Smith said the point was that it wasn’t “wise” for Brown to label the season his “favorite” immediately after being eliminated. That’s a fair stance to take considering the optics. The issue is that Smith didn’t stop there. He continued to escalate the critique in a way that crossed from commentary into disrespect by leaning into black-and-white reasoning and uniformed commentary.

You can speculate about Boston’s locker room and its feelings toward Brown, but once you state those opinions publicly without anything to back them up, you can’t be surprised by what follows.

Blaming Brown for giving Smith clicks is essentially an admission that a grown man and father of two cannot control himself. It’s unrealistic to tell Brown — or any athlete — how to handle Smith’s antics. The truth is, it’s easier to criticize the response than to call out the source that provoked it.

Perhaps it’s our fault for tuning in and keeping the lights on.

With the Game 7 loss to Cleveland, it’s officially time to start preparing for the offseason.

This article will be an overview of the roster with details of each player’s contract (or lack thereof) and what it means for the team moving forward.

Set to Return

1. Cade Cunningham

Cunningham will make $50.1 million next season and has four years and $223 million left on his contract. He’s scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent in 2030.

2. Isaiah Stewart

Stewart will make $15 million next season and has two years for $30 million left on his contract. He has a team option on his final year in 2027 and is set to be an unrestricted free agent in 2028. Given how costly the center position is about to become for Detroit, Stew is my sleeper pick for being moved this summer.

3. Caris LeVert

LeVert will make $14.8 million next season. It’s the last year on his deal as he’s set to be an unrestricted free agent in 2027. I’d expect to see this contract paired with pick #21 in many fake trade proposals this summer.

4. Ausar Thompson

Thompson will make $11.1 million next season. It’s the last year of his rookie deal and he’s scheduled to be a restricted free agent in 2027. However, he’s extension-eligible this summer and I’d expect it’ll be the first thing Detroit’s front office gets done this summer.

5. Ron Holland

Holland will make $9.1 million next season and has two years and $20 million left on his rookie contract. He’s scheduled to be a restricted free agent in 2028. While he didn’t see many minutes this postseason, he is Trajan’s first draft selection and I would expect him to be in Detroit next year, but I could see him thrown into a bigger deal this summer.

6. Marcus Sasser

Sasser is set to make $5.2 million next season. Like Thompson, it’s the last year of his rookie deal and he’ll be a restricted free agent in 2027. I don’t expect Detroit to extend Sass and view him as salary filler.

7. Chaz Lanier

Lanier is set to make $2.2 million next season and has three years and $7.5 million left on his rookie deal. His contract has a team-option in 2028 before he’s scheduled to be a restricted free agent in 2029.

Partial/Non-guaranteed Contracts

1. Duncan Robinson

Robinson will make $16 million next season, but it’s only $2 million guaranteed. He still has two years and $31 million left on his contract, but his final year is non-guaranteed. Detroit could cut Robinson this summer to save $14 million, or his contract could be an interest to other teams looking to cut costs over the next year or two. Yet, he’s really the only pure shooter Detroit has and I expect him to be on the team next year.

2. Paul Reed

Reed will make $5.6 million next season and is on the final year of his deal as he’s set to be an unrestricted free agent in 2027. None of his $5.6 million is guaranteed so cutting him this summer would save Detroit money, but I believe Reed will see an even bigger role on the court for the Pistons next season.

Team Options

1. Daniss Jenkins

Jenkins may have been the biggest surprise of this season as he worked his way from a two-way contract to a standard NBA deal. He is set to make $4 million next season and will be a restricted free agent in 2027. I would not be surprised to see Detroit reject his team option and sign him to a longer deal with more years to lock him up long term for cheap. I expect him to be the backup PG to start next season.

2. Tolu Smith

Smith was the other player to earn a standard NBA deal from a two-way contract and he’ll make $2.4 million next season. Depending on what Detroit does with its center position this summer, it would not surprise me to see Smith start the season as the third string center.

Free Agents

1. Tobias Harris

Harris finished his two-year deal worth $52 million and he made $26.6 million this season. I would fully support bringing Harris back given the locker room impact he can have, but if this team is going to take another leap, I think they need to acquire a forward that forces Tobias to the bench. If Harris would accept the Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception (NTMLE) at roughly $15 million, I think he’d be a great combo-forward off the bench next year.

2. Kevin Huerter

Huerter finished his four-year deal worth $65 million and he made $18 million this season. He played for the Kings, Bulls, and Pistons throughout his contract and rarely saw playing time for Detroit. If they need a movement shooter off the bench, Chaz Lanier has them covered. I don’t expect Huerter to return.

3. Jalen Duren

Duren finished his four-year rookie deal worth $19.5 million and made $6.5 million this season. He heads into the summer as a restricted free agent after not receiving an extension from the front office last year. I fully expect Duren to be back, but the million dollar (or $200 million) question is what JD is worth. He’s eligible for a five year deal worth $239 million, but could reach roughly $287 million if he expectedly makes an All-NBA team. After his disappointing performance in the playoffs, his next contract will be a hot topic of discussion this summer. How much is too much for this front office?

4. Javonte Green

Green signed a one-year deal with Detroit last year and made $2.3 million. I enjoyed having him on the team this year as his play exceeded my expectations. If he’s interested in returning on a minimum contract, I’d be happy to have him back.

What say you, DBB? What’re your thoughts on the Pistons roster heading into next year?

Go Stones.

In my life as a god-fearing, basketball-watching, Spurs-loving human being, I’m not sure I’ve ever hated a shot more than that three Victor took from the logo.

As soon as he pulled up I shouted NO. It felt like time stopped. I could sense my life flashing before my eyes. Everything good in the world was crashing down around me. The walls were crumbling. The water was rushing in. The air was sucked out of the room.

I was just so mad, you know? Like. The game was so good. I know the urge to throw around phrases like “instant classic” or “best ever” is strong in these situations. We want to contextualize something in real time against whatever has come before. Stack it up against our memories and definitively state that we were there. We witnessed it live. We knew right away. We saw the light and it was good.

I’m always trying to resist this temptation, to avoid the trap. To sidestep looking like a fool who got carried away in the moment. But, man, you could just feel it. This was different. This was another level of basketball. It was something that was perilously tiptoeing along the edge of becoming overhyped and still managing to meet, even exceed, expectations. It was just a basketball game, sure, but it was a basketball game that was taking our brains, cracking them against the counter, and scrambling them on a hot pan for almost four hours.

And he was about to ruin it.

The audacity of this manchild. He’d taken only one three all game and bricked it. He was so gassed. Legs gone. Brain gone. Sense of right and wrong, gone. Why would he do this to me? To us? The game wasn’t over but airballing a prayer of a three from Steph Curry range was going to, without a doubt, kill it. The blue shirts in the crowd would crescendo into a wall of sound that would swallow us completely. They took our best punch and it wasn’t enough. How would we come back from that? We probably wouldn’t.

It would be a shame, too, because the boys played beautifully, didn’t they? They gave almost everything you could possibly ask for. A measured but aggressive approach on the offensive end. Scoring spread across the roster. Attacking the rim. Timely jumpers. Feeding Wembanyama in the paint in all the right ways, gobbling up boards.

And defensively? Oh, it was a masterclass. You’re not going to stop a team as good as the Thunder, but the Spurs effectively neutralized them for most of the game. Shai was out of sorts. Chet was in purgatory. No one outside of Alex Caruso could conjure anything close to the magic we’re used to seeing from them. It was all going according to plan. We were going to bask in the glow of this performance for years. I could taste it.

It was slipping away, though. Little by little, the Thunder were getting off the mat. The score was closer. Then the score was tied. We suffered the indignity of Chet blocking Wemby at the buzzer. Now we had to keep playing and, sure enough, Shai was starting to find it. He was working his angles. He was finding space. He charged baseline and finished over Steph. He sliced through our defense and dunked in Wemby’s face. Everything tasted sour all of a sudden.

The ball was made of grease. We couldn’t buy a basket. Champagnie missed a three. The Thunder were off and running. Everyone looked so tired. Just absolutely spent. They had given everything they had to try and pull off this miracle and it wasn’t going to be enough. We were about to be down two possessions with under a minute. The dream was over. We hadn’t survived.

Now, I don’t know why Jalen Williams decided to give us life by taking an ill-advised contested mid-range, but it didn’t matter, because of this colossal doofus. This 7-foot-4 buffoon. This immature, foolish, arrogant boy was about to throw that gift in the trash by pulling up from a million miles out and launching a desperate prayer. What a joke. What a disaster. What an absolute tragedy.

I don’t believe in magic. I don’t believe in miracles. I don’t think there’s some kind of divine presence intervening in the trials and tribulations of sport. I won’t sit here and pretend something happened out there on the court in Oklahoma that means anything beyond the three points that went on the board after that ball fell through the hoop.

All I can report is that I felt different afterwards. The chemistry inside my body changed. Like the Ship of Theseus, I came out the other end functionally the same but radically altered on a fundamental level.

I’ve never hated a shot more than I did when Victor pulled up from the logo.

I don’t think I’ve ever loved a shot more than when Victor pulled up from the logo.

Takeaways

• Hoo boy, Spurs fans. Are we okay? Do we think we can survive a whole round of this? My mind, body, and soul are, honestly, going to be a game-time decision the rest of the way.
• I’d like to go ahead and get this on the record now: every single instance of someone saying some version of “This is the actual NBA Finals right here” puts me on edge. I don’t care how good the Spurs and Thunder are. I don’t care how good the Knicks and Cavs are. The concept of putting the cart so significantly before the horse drives me insane. Stop doing it! If we somehow manage to survive this series, we have to trundle into Madison Square Garden and topple a team that’s handed us losses repeatedly this year. We’re not allowed to pretend the regular season games against the Thunder matter if we’re going to say the regular season games against the Knicks don’t. The Cavs might also be there. (At press time, Charlie did not have any other thoughts on the Cavs. Uh, stay tuned as this story develops.)
• I think I’m okay with the Alex Caruso of it all. Like, I think we probably run that back, right? He obviously played out of his mind, and we were clearly willing to go with the strategy of “if Alex Caruso beats us then so be it.” If we needed to shut down Alex Caruso, my boy Sean Sweeney could probably dial something up, it would just likely come at the expense of stuffing Shai in a locker all night. We make that trade every time, yea? I’m not going to enjoy him bombing wide open corner threes for the next two weeks, but I’m willing to play the odds.
• The thing where Thunder fans don’t sit until they score their first basket would make me so uncomfortable if I were in that crowd. I just don’t understand the upside. If they score quickly, great, it’s over and you’re just sitting. If they go seven minutes without scoring, everyone is just standing there staring at each other making it awkward. It doesn’t affect me at all, so you know, go with God or whatever. But I do not understand it. Spurs fans are perfect and don’t do anything weird. Case closed.
• I loved the Spurs unleashing Carter Bryant on Shai every once in a while just to go get in his face and cause problems. What a delight. What a fun wrinkle! You could just feel Shai shake his head like “not this guy” every time Bryant stepped on the court. They should give a “Not This Guy” award at the end of the series, like an MVP, for whoever was the most annoying to play against. Make the trophy obnoxious. Adam Silver, you know where to find me. I have dozens of ideas like this.

WWL Post Game Press Conference

Do you have a ranking of shots that you hated?

No, I think I try to forget about the shots I hate as much as possible. I have a pretty distinct memory of hating a lot of Manu’s shots over the years but, you know, I think in his case the ends ended up justifying the means over time.

He was kind of the archetypal “No, no, no, YES” player, right?

For sure. That was like his brand.

What about the Tim Duncan three against the Suns in ’08? I’m sure you weren’t psyched about that.

See, that’s a totally different thing than the Wemby situation here. Wemby pulled up in the middle of transition with a ton of time left on the clock to, I don’t know, do something reasonable. Set up the offense. Run a play. Burn some clock. Normal things, right? I hated Wemby’s shot because it defied the logic my brain was desperately grasping onto in its dying moments. Timmy’s miracle three was born out of something else entirely. There were like four seconds left. He had to take that thing. Now, for the life of me I still have no idea why he, of all people, was standing out beyond the arc while Manu barreled into the lane, but hey. The Lord works in mysterious ways.

I thought you said you didn’t believe in a divine presence intervening in the trials and tribulations of sport.

Look, I say a lot of things. I also said my brain was scrambled on a hot pan for four hours last night, so maybe give a guy a break.

What’s the best shot of Stephen Curry’s career? There are plenty of great ones to choose from, but I’ll always be partial to his near halfcourt pull-up to stun the Oklahoma City Thunder during a 2016 regular season game. Curry already had one championship and one MVP to his name at the time, but his game-winner in OKC hinted that NBA fans were watching something truly special. Curry would go on to become the first unanimous NBA MVP in league history that season, and the Warriors would break the all-time record for most wins in a regular season with 73. We all know how it ended: LeBron James led the Cavs to a 3-1 comeback in the NBA Finals, the Warriors responded by signing Kevin Durant in free agency, and the dominos effect of that moment in time is still being felt today.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are facing the San Antonio Spurs in the 2026 Western Conference Finals, and to me this is the highest level of basketball the league has seen since those old Cavs-Warriors NBA Finals series before the pandemic. Game 1 was an absolute masterpiece, perhaps the defining game of the 2020s so far in what should be the defining rivalry of the 2020s for the league, if not all of American professional sports. The Spurs beat the Thunder, 122-115, in double-overtime to steal homecourt advantage right off the rip. It was a dizzying game with incredible moments on both sides, but one play stands out more than the rest.

With the Spurs trailing by three in overtime with under 30 seconds left, Victor Wembanyama jacked a transition three from way, way behind the three-point line. He drained it, the Spurs got a stop at the other end to force double OT, where they eventually won the game.

Wembanyama’s shot was eerily similar to the one Curry hit against the Thunder 10 years ago. Watch them both play out here:

Here’s an alternate angle of Wemby’s shot, via the Spurs:

Wembanyama ended the night with 41 points, 24 rebounds, three assists, three blocks, one steal, and only three turnovers. He also played a career-high 49 minutes, and the Spurs needed every second to win the game. The Spurs are now 5-1 against the Thunder this season including the regular season. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander better enjoy this second MVP award, because Wembanyama is taking the crown from him as long as he plays enough games going forward.

The Thunder got eight made threes from Alex Caruso after he shot 29 percent from three on the year, and they still couldn’t beat San Antonio. The balance of power in the NBA felt like it shifted during Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. The Thunder will likely respond. Every game of this series is going to be must-see.