The New York Knicks are the 2026 NBA champions, which is a sentence that still feels a little strange to type, even after watching the confetti fall and Karl-Anthony Towns finally get his hands on the Larry O’Brien Trophy. After 53 years of waiting, after decades of false starts, front-office chaos, tabloid drama, and Madison Square Garden turning into the world’s most famous therapy session, the Knicks finally reached the top of the mountain. For Wolves fans, there was something satisfying about seeing KAT standing there at the center of it all. He was no longer the guy who couldn’t quite get over the hump, no longer the talented big man forever followed by questions about postseason winning, but a champion.

Towns becoming the latest former Timberwolves cornerstone to win a title elsewhere could easily send Wolves Nation into a dark corner. We have seen this song before. Kevin Garnett gave Minnesota everything he had, left, and won a championship in Boston. Kevin Love put up monster numbers in Minnesota, left, and won a championship in Cleveland. Now Towns, two years removed from being traded out of Minneapolis, has joined them. If you wanted to be miserable about it, nobody would stop you. You could turn the whole thing into another chapter in the franchise’s long-running book of “Why Can’t We Have Nice Things?”

But that would be the wrong lesson to take from this.

The better lesson is that the NBA has changed. New York’s title marks the eighth straight season in which a different team has hoisted the Larry O’Brien Trophy. Eight years, eight champions. That is not how this league used to work. Historically, the NBA has been the sport of dynasties, superstars, and teams that grabbed the wheel and refused to let anyone else drive for half a decade. The 1990s belonged to Michael Jordan and the Bulls. The early 2000s belonged to Shaq, Kobe, Duncan, and the Spurs. Then LeBron bent the league around his will for more than a decade, while the Warriors arrived and turned basketball into a three-point fever dream. For most of NBA history, parity was something the league pretended to want while the same three or four teams passed the trophy around like a family heirloom.

The 2020s have been different. There has been no repeat champion. There has been no unstoppable machine that simply shows up every June because the rest of the league has already accepted its fate. Instead, the championship has gone to teams that found the right mix at the right time, stayed healthy enough, caught a heater, survived the attrition, and threaded the needle through a league that has become more balanced, more fragile, and more unforgiving than ever. The second apron has made it harder to stack rosters without consequences. Injuries have mattered. Matchups have mattered. Timing has mattered. The champion has not always been the team that looked most inevitable in January. It has been the team that was still standing, still connected, and still dangerous when the lights got brightest.

That should matter to Timberwolves fans, because it is very easy right now to talk yourself into despair. The Wolves were eliminated by San Antonio in the second round after back-to-back trips to the Western Conference Finals, and the ending did not exactly inspire a lot of confidence. It was not just that Minnesota lost. It was the way the Wolves lost. Victor Wembanyama looked like the future had arrived ahead of schedule, and the Spurs looked like a team that might spend the next decade ruining everyone else’s plans. Oklahoma City, meanwhile, is still sitting out West with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a back-to-back MVP, a title of its own, and enough draft capital to classify Sam Presti as a hoarder. If you want to look at the Thunder and Spurs and decide the Wolves’ championship window is already closing, the argument is sitting right there waiting for you.

But this is where the Knicks’ title should jolt everyone back to reality. If eight teams can win in eight years, if the NBA has truly entered an era where the trophy is no longer reserved for dynasties and preordained superteams, then why exactly are we acting like Minnesota has no path? Why are we treating Oklahoma City and San Antonio like immovable monuments instead of extremely talented teams that still have to survive the same brutal playoff minefield as everyone else? Why are we assuming that the Wolves, with Anthony Edwards not yet in his prime, a talented core around him, and a front office that has already shown a willingness to be aggressive, are somehow locked out of the conversation?

Why not the Wolves?

That is not blind homerism. That is not pretending the roster is perfect or ignoring what happened against San Antonio. It is simply acknowledging the reality of the current NBA. The Wolves have what every team in the league spends years trying to find: a true superstar. Anthony Edwards is not a theoretical franchise player anymore. He is the franchise. He is the kind of player who changes the trajectory of a team’s future, the kind of player who gives you permission to think bigger than “maybe we can win a round.” He has already been through real playoff wars. He has already stared down Kevin Durant, Nikola Jokic, LeBron James, Luka Doncic, SGA, and Wembanyama. He has taken hits. He has played hurt. He has failed. He has learned. And he is still climbing.

That last part is the most important part. Edwards is not some veteran star with one last clean shot at a championship before the window slams shut. He is still approaching his prime, still refining the balance between scoring and playmaking, still learning how to control a playoff series possession by possession. If the Wolves had a 29-year-old Edwards and had just watched their best chance slip away, maybe the panic would feel more justified, but that is not where they are. They are building around a superstar who should be better next year, and the year after that, and the year after that.

Around him, the Wolves still have a core that is much better than the mood of the fan base currently suggests. Julius Randle can be maddening at times, and the anti-Randle bandwagon has filled up so quickly it probably needs a second bus. The San Antonio series was not good enough. The OKC series the year before was not good enough. There are fair questions about whether he can be the reliable second option the Wolves need when the playoffs tighten and the margins shrink, but we also should not pretend that peak Julius does not exist. When Randle is engaged, decisive, attacking downhill, and using his gravity to create for others, he gives Minnesota a level of offensive force that is difficult to replace. We have seen stretches where Edwards and Randle together make the Wolves look like a title-level offense. The problem is not that Randle cannot help a championship team. The problem is figuring out whether the Wolves can consistently get the version of him that does.

Rudy Gobert remains a Defensive Player of the Year-level anchor, and while his limitations will always create debate in certain playoff matchups, the Wolves are not the Wolves without the foundation he provides. Jaden McDaniels is still the kind of defensive bulldog every contender wants, a wing who can swallow up elite scorers, tilt a series with his length, and occasionally remind everyone that there is more offensive juice in there than he always shows. Naz Reid is a luxury most teams would love to have, a floor-spacing big who can bomb away from deep, attack mismatches, and swing games when he catches fire. Ayo Dosunmu showed enough after arriving to make you believe there is real playoff value there, especially when you remember that this is a guy who dropped 43 points in a postseason game and gave Minnesota a burst of creation and confidence when injuries had gutted the rotation.

That is a real group. It is not flawless, but nobody in this league has a flawless group anymore. That is the entire point. The champion Knicks had holes. The Spurs had holes. The Thunder had holes. Every contender has something that keeps its fans awake at night. That is life in the second-apron NBA. The question is no longer whether you can build a perfect roster. You cannot. The question is whether you can build a roster with enough high-end talent, enough matchup flexibility, enough health, and enough belief to survive four rounds when everyone else is dealing with their own problems.

The Wolves’ playoff loss to San Antonio was disappointing, but it also needs to be viewed with some perspective. Minnesota was not close to whole. Edwards was playing on two bad knees and was clearly limited. Donte DiVincenzo was sidelined with an Achilles tear, removing a player whose shooting, toughness, and connective tissue would have mattered enormously. Dosunmu was banged up. Naz was dealing with a shoulder issue. This was not the Wolves at their apex. This was a compromised version of the roster trying to solve one of the hardest puzzles in basketball, and even then Minnesota took two games and reached a 2-2 tie before the wheels came off. That does not mean the Wolves were secretly the better team. They were not. San Antonio deserved to advance. But it does mean the gap is not some uncrossable canyon unless you choose to see it that way.

The point guard issue remains the biggest flashing red light, and if Tim Connelly does nothing else this offseason, he has to address it. We have beaten this topic into sawdust already, but it remains true. Minnesota needs another player who can handle the ball, organize the offense, create a shot, and take pressure off Edwards. That is why the Kyrie Irving idea keeps lingering in the background. It is risky, complicated, and not without plenty of reasons to hesitate, but the basketball logic is obvious. A player like Kyrie would give the Wolves a level of late-clock creation and half-court shot-making they sorely missed when defenses loaded up on Edwards. He would change the shape of the offense. He would make opponents pay for sending extra bodies at Ant. And if the price is Randle, or a Randle-centered deal, you at least have to explore whether that recalibrates the roster in a way that makes Minnesota more dangerous.

At the same time, this is where Connelly has to be careful. The Knicks just won a title, but that does not mean the lesson is “panic trade for the flashiest name possible.” It means the lesson is that the right team at the right time can break through. Sometimes that requires a major move. Sometimes it requires patience. Sometimes it requires the move you do not make. Randle may be the clearest path to changing the roster, but moving him only makes sense if the return actually solves a problem and raises the ceiling. Trading him just because fans are frustrated would be the kind of reactive decision that bad franchises make. The Wolves are no longer supposed to be that franchise.

DiVincenzo’s injury complicates everything. Maybe 2026-27 is the year Minnesota is one player short because DDV is rehabbing a torn Achilles. Maybe he returns late and is not quite himself. Maybe he is not truly back until 2027-28. That is a real blow, because his shooting and competitiveness were exactly the sort of traits that translate in the postseason. But even that should not turn next season into title-or-bust hysteria. This is not a one-year chase. This is a multi-year fight through Edwards’ prime.

That is why the proper response to the Knicks winning the title is not jealousy. It is not fatalism. It is not panic. It is belief sharpened by urgency. New York just showed what can happen when a talented team catches the moment and a franchise with decades of baggage finally stops acting like history gets a vote. The Wolves have baggage too. Nobody needs to remind this fan base of that. Garnett had to leave to win. Love had to leave to win. Towns just left to win. It is tempting to turn that into a curse, to treat Minnesota as the place where stars are forged for someone else’s parade.

But Edwards gives the Wolves a chance to change that story.

He is the difference. He is the reason this does not have to become another chapter in the same old book. The Wolves have the superstar. They have the core. They have the defensive infrastructure. They have enough talent to be dangerous. They need the right adjustment, better health, more consistency, and a little bit of the timing that every champion needs. That is not some impossible formula. That is how teams win in this era.

So take a deep breath, Wolves fans. The Thunder are scary. The Spurs are scary. Wembanyama might spend the next decade making everyone feel like they are playing NBA2K on the wrong difficulty level. Oklahoma City might have enough picks to keep adding reinforcements until 2047. Acknowledge it, respect it, and then stop acting like the Wolves should be terrified.

Eight champions in eight years tells us this league is open. It tells us the next team is not predetermined. It tells us that if you have a superstar, a real core, a smart front office, and the courage to keep pushing, you have a chance.

The Knicks got theirs. KAT got his. Good for him. Truly.

Now the Wolves need to chase theirs.

Eight teams. Eight years.

Why not nine?

Why not us?

Draymond Green is kind of nuts when he’s working, but no one can deny that he’s an incredibly smart basketball player. He’s built a career as a 6-6 center, at least on defense, something we don’t think anyone has done since Wes Unseld. And while the Warriors have occasionally had big men, as they now have 7-2 Kristaps Porzingis, Green has played the post for most of his career and will probably do it at times again next season.

So while at times he can seem loony (like when he compared himself to Charles Barkley recently), when he opines on a younger player, you should listen.

And in this case, since he’s talking about former Blue Devil Cameron Boozer, Duke fans will be interested. Here’s what he said:

“Cam Boozer is probably a 20 [points] and 10 [rebounds] guy from the time he walks in [to the NBA]. He wins and he’s fundamentally sound.

“Tim Duncan never had to blow you through the roof, yet he was so great. He’s one of the greatest players we’ve ever seen. And I think that was Tim Duncan. And you look at Cam Boozer, he has a similar thing. Not saying Cam Boozer is going to be Tim Duncan. I don’t know that.

Tim Duncan’s the greatest power forward we’ve ever seen play. But what I’m saying, there’s no wow to it. It’s just results after results after results after results.”

That kind of sums it up, but he missed a key strength: first, his teams tend to win, and second, people seem to always miss his passing, because Boozer is a tremendous passer. He’s not Larry Bird, making passes over his shoulder or without looking, but like everything else in Boozer’s game, his fundamentals are impeccable, and he’s strong as hell.

Most teams will find that useful.

Speaking of Boozer, there are strong rumors now that the Utah Jazz are genuinely torn on who to take with the #2 pick. They like AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson, but Boozer has apparently made an impression as well.

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It’s parade day in New York City.

The New York Knicks are celebrating something that will live forever in that city and around the fanbase — an NBA Championship.

As a fan of both the Knicks and Villanova, this was a special year for me personally. June 13th, 2026 is a day that will be remembered forever and it began in the morning on the college side.

As I sat there waiting for Game 5 of the NBA Finals in hopes of closing it out, Villanova received the news that Italian big man Luigi Suigo decided to withdraw from the NBA Draft and commit to the Wildcats. The inevitable became reality after Suigo made this decision on deadline day.

Suigo brings incredible size at 7-foot-3 and versatility as he can handle the ball on the perimeter and score from all three levels. With the combination of Kwame Evans in the frontcourt and Devin Royal at the three, Villanova now has one of the best rosters in the nation.

So, the day began with this commitment that will have Villanova in the Top 25 rankings to begin the season. We got to enjoy the news and picture the Wildcats back in the NCAA Tournament competing for a Final Four appearance.

Of course, this is something we saw three times in six years with two National Championships. Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges were freshmen in 2016 as Josh Hart led Villanova to a title. That year, the Knicks were a 32-win team looking for answers. It would only get worse in New York as win totals dropped to 31 the next year and 29 in 2018 as Villanova was celebrating another championship.

The Villanova trio would go on to enter the NBA as the Knicks remained in the cellar with 38 wins over the next two years.

In 2022, Brunson signed a four-year deal with the Knicks and this began the rise, but not right away. The signing of Brunson was criticized. New York struggled to find a point guard for years and at first, Brunson was not viewed as the savior. Over the next two years, the Knicks would make moves to acquire Hart (2023) and Bridges (2024), both who signed deals to remain in New York.

Let’s not forget about Donte DiVincenzo, who joined Brunson in New York as a free agent. He was sent to Minnesota in the deal that brought Karl-Anthony Towns to the Big Apple. DiVincenzo still has one of the most memorable shots in recent memory against the Philadelphia 76ers in Game Two at Madison Square Garden.

Once the Villanova trio was brought to town with OG Anunoby and eventually Towns to complete the starting lineup, the Knicks were ready to compete for a title. Injuries took over in 2024 as the Knicks lost to the Indiana Pacers in the conference semis before they were knocked out in the conference finals last year by the same Pacers.

As a fan of Villanova, it has been incredible to watch the trio in New York bringing the Knicks back to the top of the league. While I saw them win titles at Villanova, it was impossible to visualize the Knicks holding up the Larry O’Brien at the end of the playoffs.

It was done in an epic way. The Knicks logged the largest comeback in NBA Finals history in Game 4 after being down 29 points. Brunson would then scored 45 points in the closeout game on the road. When the clock hit zeros, the Villanova trio had won an NBA title and proved to be the ultimate winners.

It has been a surreal week celebrating the New York Knicks being NBA Champions, but I have also thought about Villanova each day. Jay Wright has also been featured in many interviews discussing how this group has been able to get it done at every level. It brought back visions of Villanova on the stage at the end of the NCAA Tournament celebrating championships. It did not take long for Kevin Willard to bring the Wildcats back to the tournament and now, he has built one of the top rosters in the nation in the transfer portal.

Saturday brought it all full circle. The day began with Suigo and it ended with three Wildcat legends becoming NBA Champions.

In evaluating Joel Embiid’s 2025-26 season, let’s refer back to his comments following the Sixers’ second-round sweep at the hands of the soon-to-be-champion New York Knicks:

“For me, this was a success. I came into this year not knowing where I was gonna be, how long I was gonna play, if I was even gonna play based on how the knee was the last few years. I came in just hoping for the best.

“And I feel like we’re in a position where we figured out the knee. It hasn’t been an issue. If it wasn’t for the oblique or some of the other stuff I had, it would have been different as would have how many games I would have played.”

Under that lens, Embiid’s season was an unqualified success. Following yet another surgery last year, Joel was clearly uncertain whether the knee would allow him to keep playing going forward, particularly at the level he expected for himself. However, after a slow start to the season, he appeared in 14 January games, averaging 29.7 points and 8.4 rebounds, and shooting 53.7 percent from the field. Embiid twice played 40 or more minutes in a game during the month. He wasn’t back to his previous MVP form, particularly with less mobility and spring on the defensive end, but this version of Embiid was still an All-Star-caliber player.

Of course, Joel would then go on to miss significant time with an oblique injury, have ankle and hip issues, and have the start of his postseason impacted by emergency appendicitis surgery. Add it all up and he only appeared in 38 regular season games and seven of Philadelphia’s 11 postseason contests. Those figures speak to the predicament the Sixers find themselves in with regard to Joel. Embiid is set to make close to $58 million next season, with escalating values across the subsequent two years. You need someone soaking up that percentage of your cap to be the unquestioned cornerstone of the team. But this version of Embiid is more of a seasonal decoration you bring out for a month or two and then place back into storage.

Embiid is automatically missing a dozen or so games per season by sitting out back-to-backs. Even under a best-case scenario, he’s going to also miss a handful of games here and there and you’re looking at a ceiling of 60 games played. Sixers fans would be doing backflips if that were the case and you’re talking about a starter missing a quarter of the season. You can’t allocate major resources to the backup center position when Joel is making that much money, and the team overall is going to have trouble adopting a continuity of play style with Embiid in and out of the lineup. It’s a problem.

Still, I don’t know exactly what route Mike Gansey and the new front office can take. You’re not getting positive value for Joel in a trade, and any smaller salary dump contracts the team would receive in return would almost certainly lower the team’s ceiling vs. having him around. Hopefully, that stretch from late December to early February can provide the blueprint moving forward. You play it smart with him during the regular season, hoping to have him available for something like 60-70 percent of the year, then have him round into form as the playoffs approach and hope one of his internal organs doesn’t unexpectedly rupture.

As the Sixers prepare for the future and build around the backcourt of Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, I believe Embiid can still be a positive part of the team’s present. Hopefully, last season represents more of a positive step towards a new normal for the big man, and not as much a last glimpse of a tremendous career.

The 2025-26 Knicks championship run, aside from being euphoric, historically impressive and unifying, was validating. It validated Leon Rose, who built a team like a family and made good moves to reach this pinnacle.

It validated Mike Brown and Karl-Anthony Towns, two talents who could never get over the hump. But maybe more than anybody, it validated Jalen Brunson, an all-time great playoff performer who was a championship shy of pantheon status.

Now he’s got it, and despite the best efforts of the naysayers and rewriters of history, he’s ascended from gutsy underdog to legend. It’s time we talk about him that way.

First, a refresher on his resume to this point. After his first regular season as full-time starting point guard in 2022-23, he led the Knicks to the second round by defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers in five games, ultimately losing to the Finals-bound Miami Heat in six.

He averaged 27.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 5.6 assists on 47.4 percent shooting from the field. In a desperate stand against the Heat, he put up 32 points and 11 assists, 38 points and 41 points in consecutive closeout games, playing at least 45 minutes in each.

Turns out that was only a preview of how dominant Brunson could be in carrying a team despite the defensive gameplan being focused on him. He’d average 28.7 points and 6.7 assists the following season, losing his co-star, Julius Randle, halfway through, and finishing top five in MVP voting. 

With little but high-skilled role players and the power of friendship, he clawed the Knicks past the Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey-led Philadelphia 76ers, averaging 41.8 points and 10.3 assists on 54.7 percent shooting from two and 35.3 percent from three over the last four games of the series. He opened Round Two with another 43-point outburst, becoming the first player since Michael Jordan to record four straight 40-point games in the postseason, joining only Bernard King,Jerry West and him.

Injuries and wear-down would nix that run, but Brunson came back prepared last season, averaging 26 points and 7.3 assists (a career high) and winning Clutch Player of the Year thanks to his countless fourth quarter takeovers. He’d carry that over into the playoffs, averaging 29.4 points and seven assists on 51.4 percent shooting from two and 35.8 percent from three.

Brunson led his Knicks to two wins shy of an NBA Finals berth, icing the Pistons on a game-winning step-back three and pulling off a major upset of the defending champion Boston Celtics. 

Of course, this year he followed up a relatively muted regular season with the playoff run of his life. He averaged 28.4 points and 6.1 assists on 51 percent shooting from two and 36.3 percent from three, numbers burdened by multiple blowouts wins that saw him sit for entire fourth quarters.

After a Towns-centric first round, Brunson led the Knicks past Philadelphia and Cleveland in dominant fashion, and took control of the NBA Finals against the frisky Spurs. He put up 32.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 4.6 assists in the championship round, clutching Games 1 and 2, leading a 29-point comeback in Game 4, and dropping a masterclass 45 points in the Game 5 clincher, all while being the center of attention against the league’s top defense.

In this four-year span, Brunson’s scored 300 more playoff points than any other NBA player and became the second-fastest point guard in history to 2,000 postseason points after Stephen Curry. He became one of six players to notch 26 points per game and 50 playoff wins before the age of 30, joining Curry, Jordan, LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Shaquille O’Neal.

He’s tied for the most postseason wins over the last four seasons. His 45 points to win the Finals tied Jordan for an NBA road clincher record, and his 10.3 points in fourth quarters was the highest since Jordan in 1997.

Much of this was invalidated by the critique the Knicks couldn’t win a championship this way, or with a player of Brunson’s stature at the lead. Those critics were wrong, and while many will double down or move goalposts, the evidence speaks for itself at this point.

Brunson isn’t just a heartwarming second-round come-up story, he isn’t just the Knicks’ savior or an All-Star tier player. He is one of the greatest guards this game has ever seen, and the time for such discussion is over.

Hopefully a lot of people and teams around the league are asking themselves what they can learn and take from the success of the New York Knicks after their dominant playoff run and Championship title win this year. 

Because what the Knicks did on the court – and off – through the last few years has been so consistent, so insisting on trusting the process and players, and so team-oriented that it is bound to warm the hearts of basketball fans all over the world. 

It turns out that team basketball is back. As a European, I feel a personal sense of joy and pride, and perhaps something you could call excitement for what’s to come. Whether you come from the continent of team-oriented basketball like me or not, the direction which basketball seems to be headed with the Knicks blazing the trail, should excite each and every one of us. 

Team basketball has never really been the strongpoint of the NBA, but once in a while a team comes along, whose players and leadership all understand the upside, strength and value of this kind of approach. To the benefit and collective gain of us all. 

Sure, Jalen Brunson often plays a heliocentric type of basketball, and sure there’s some iso’ing especially in big moments, but I’d argue that that is a needed aspect of basketball at the highest level. All in all, in how they built the team, in their star playing not being a superstar – when he arrived, anyway – and their insistence on the value of cohesion, it’s more team basketball oriented consistently than most teams in the recent past. 

Here’s why. 

When the Villanova brothers Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart were reunited in New York, a culture of trust was reestablished. A culture that seems to push away the ego, instead highlighting the importance of every single player and what they do for the team emerged. 

A culture of winning taught at Villanova no doubt. And as the three amigos had gone through winning a Championship together in college they knew what it took. They knew how to set the tone, and they knew how everyone matters in getting there. 

Not everyone who enters the NBA or plays basketball at the highest level understands this. It’s a common misunderstanding that just because you’re a great basketball player, you also know what it takes to win. Most players, even the best in the world, have not been in a situation where they had to lead a team to win. 

The Villanova brothers are not the best basketball players in the league. The Knicks are not the best team, talent-wise and on paper. But what this Knicks team proved to everyone watching is that it takes more than that to win. 

From Jalen Brunson taking a huge pay cut, to the team and leadership understanding and appreciating what Josh Hart does to secure a win outside the stat sheet, and how much connection and cohesion matters when creating a winning team. 

What team basketball teaches and reminds us is that no one can win alone. We all have a role in the success of this thing that is bigger than us, and playing together is better and more efficient than taking on a challenge alone. Playing for something bigger than yourself is more powerful than playing just for yourself. 

No, when you play for others, meaning arrives – and that’s where things start to become interesting. If we ever needed a reminder of that, it’s right now in today’s world. 

The New York Knicks remind us of what is good and meaningful about basketball, about being a fan, about belonging somewhere and being part of something bigger. 

Often, teams try to make a star player fit into a roster. They assume they can move people around and they will just play the same anywhere they go and with whomever they play. 

But once again we see evidence that human beings don’t work like that. A multitude of things affect if they are able to play up to their best. The personnel around them. The coaching approach and chemistry. The trust and energy of the whole franchise. 

The Knicks got Brunson what he needed to succeed. They took their time and trusted the players and the process. And that all paid off. 

Brunson was never a superstar like others in his generation. Still, he managed to lead his team to an incredibly dominant NBA Championship, because he had the right people around him. Imagine if other stars had that same kind of advantage. 

It’s about people. Hopefully, Dallas will take notes on how to develop and build the Mavs around their young superstar in a similar way. 

Find more Beyond Basketball pieces here.

Five days until the NBA Draft, which means it’s time to continue our countdown of the best players selected at every draft position in NBA history. Why? Because I wanted to know, I wanted to do the thought exercise…and it sure was an exercise. But along the way, I learned some things I did not know, and am here to report back what I have found.

Recapping yesterday, here is where we currently sit for the players drafted 60 through 51:

Pick	Player	Year
60	Michael Cooper	1978
59	Pat Cummings	1978
58	Kurt Rambis	1980
57	Manu Ginobili	1999
56	Amir Johnson	2005
55	Luis Scola	2002
54	Sam Mitchell	1985
53	Anthony Mason	1988
52	Rasual Butler	2002
51	Kyle Korver	2003

Today, we move to the middle of the second round, examining picks 41 through 50. In today’s NBA, this area of the draft is often viewed as a place to find developmental prospects, stash players on two-way contracts, or take low-risk swings on upside. Yet there’s still value to be found here. As I worked through the history of these draft slots, one thing became clear. That wasn’t always the case.

For much of NBA history, players selected in this range often never made an NBA roster. Once upon a time, the draft stretched far beyond two rounds, and there simply weren’t enough roster spots available for everyone selected. The league was different then. There was no G League to absorb developmental talent. There wasn’t a structured pipeline for player growth. Teams drafted prospects and hoped things worked out, but many players either never received an opportunity or chose to continue their careers overseas.

That’s no longer the reality. The modern NBA has created far more avenues for player development, and as you’ll see throughout this list, there are still plenty of hidden gems to be found in the middle of the second round. In fact, one of the players we’ll discuss is, in my opinion, the most impactful second-round pick in NBA history.

So let’s get into it. Picks 50 through 41, and the best player selected at each spot in NBA Draft history.

50. Steve Kerr (1988)

Honorable Mentions:

• Larry Kenon (1973)
• Georges Niang (2016)

Suns Taken at 50:

• Steve Kerr (1988)
• Milos Babic (1990)*
• Joey Wright (1991)
• Charles Claxton (1994)
• Alton Ford (2001)
• Alec Brown (2014)

*traded to Cleveland for Stefano Rusconi

There aren’t a ton of names drafted 50th overall who truly move the needle, which made this one unbelievably easy. The greatest player ever selected at No. 50 is former Sun player and GM Steve Kerr.

Coming out of the University of Arizona, Kerr was drafted by the Phoenix Suns in 1988. His rookie season in Phoenix was modest, as he averaged 2.1 points per game while trying to find his footing in the NBA. The Suns ultimately traded him to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1989 for a second-round pick.

From there, Kerr bounced around the league for a few years as a role player, steadily carving out a niche for himself. Then came 1993 and a move that changed everything. Kerr joined the Chicago Bulls. What followed was one of the most successful runs any role player has ever experienced.

Over the next four seasons, Kerr played all 82 games each year for Chicago. He didn’t start a single game during that stretch, but his impact was undeniable. While he wasn’t a high-volume three-point shooter by modern standards, he was one of the most efficient shooters the league had ever seen. In 1994-95, Kerr led the NBA in three-point percentage, knocking down an absurd 52.4% of his attempts from beyond the arc.

He won three championships with the Bulls before the franchise dismantled its dynasty in 1999. Kerr then landed with the San Antonio Spurs, where the winning continued. He captured two more championships in San Antonio, bringing his total to five as a player.

When it was all said and done, Kerr played 15 seasons in the NBA, won five championships, and retired as the most accurate three-point shooter in league history. His career mark of 45.4% from beyond the arc remains one of the greatest shooting accomplishments the game has ever seen.

49. Eddie Johnson (1977)

Honorable Mentions:

• James Jones (2003)
• Haywoode Workman (1989)

Suns Taken at 49:

• Rich Jones (1968)*
• Earl Williams (1974)
• Ron Ellis (1992)
• Mark Buford (1993)

*opted to go to the ABA

Former Suns player and executive James Jones was drafted 49th overall, but he isn’t the best player ever selected at that spot. That honor belongs to Eddie Johnson. And no, not the Eddie Johnson Suns fans know and love as the longtime Phoenix Suns broadcaster, who was drafted four years later. We’re talking about Edward Lee Johnson Jr., better known as ‘Fast Eddie’.

The 6’2″ shooting guard out of Auburn was selected by the Atlanta Hawks in 1977 and quickly established himself as a productive two-way player. Johnson spent the majority of his career with Atlanta, becoming one of the better guards in the Eastern Conference during the late 1970s and early 1980s.

His accomplishments speak for themselves. Johnson earned All-Star selections in both 1980 and 1981 while also receiving All-Defensive Team honors in 1979 and 1980. Over the course of a 10-year NBA career, he averaged 15.1 points per game and developed a reputation as a player who could impact the game on both ends of the floor.

There’s also a Suns connection. Johnson was the older brother of Frank Johnson, who spent parts of seven seasons with Phoenix and later served as the team’s head coach from 2002 through 2004.

On the court, Eddie Johnson’s résumé makes him a clear choice as the best player ever selected 49th overall. Unfortunately, that’s not the entire story. His life after basketball became defined by legal troubles and controversy. Over the years, Johnson was arrested and convicted on numerous charges, including burglary, battery, robbery, drug possession, assault on a police officer, and resisting arrest. It’s an unfortunate chapter that forever impacts how his career is remembered.

When evaluating the 49th pick, the basketball accomplishments are undeniable. The career that followed, however, complicates the legacy of the most accomplished player ever selected in that draft slot.

48. Marc Gasol (2007)

Honorable Mentions:

• Cedric Ceballos (1990)
• Craig Ehlo (1983)

Suns Taken at 48:

• Vann Williford (1970)*
• Dennis “Mo” Layton (1971)
• Cedric Ceballos (1990)
• Brian Davis (1992)
• Malik Hairston (2008)**
• Taylor Griffin (2009)

*opted to go to the ABA
**traded to San Antonio for Goran Dragic

Oooo, I wanted to go with Ceddy in this spot. But as I looked down the list and started comparing career accolades, it’s clear that one guy stood above the rest. Easily. Your older brother is a dominant big man, yet despite standing 6’11”, you still find yourself selected in the second round, 48th overall. That was the story of Marc Gasol.

The Lakers drafted him in 2007, but the then 23-year-old opted to remain in Spain for another season with CB Girona. It turned out to be a wise decision. Gasol won MVP honors in the Spanish League, further cementing himself as one of the best players outside of the NBA.

Then everything changed. The Lakers traded his rights to the Memphis Grizzlies as part of the deal that brought his older brother, Pau Gasol, to Los Angeles. It’s one of those rare trades that worked out beautifully for both organizations. The move helped open the door for multiple championships in Los Angeles. It also opened the door for a long and prosperous career in Memphis.

Gasol finished eighth in Rookie of the Year voting and quickly established himself as one of the league’s most skilled centers. By his fourth season, he had earned the first of what would become three All-Star appearances with the Grizzlies. His breakthrough came in 2012-13. That season, Gasol was named Defensive Player of the Year while also earning All-NBA Second Team and All-Defensive Team honors. Two years later, he elevated his game even further, landing on the All-NBA First Team in 2014-15.

As the years passed, Gasol became one of the defining players of the Grizzlies’ Grit and Grind era, serving as the anchor of one of the toughest teams in basketball. Eventually, Memphis traded him to the Toronto Raptors in 2019 in a deal that included Jonas Valanciunas, C.J. Miles, and Delon Wright. The move paid immediate dividends. Gasol helped Toronto capture its first NBA championship, adding a title to an already impressive résumé.

For the 48th overall pick, it’s hard to ask for much more. Gasol was a three-time All-Star, a two-time All-NBA selection, a Defensive Player of the Year, an All-Defensive Team member, and an NBA champion. The pedigree was always there. He simply needed the opportunity to prove it.

47. Paul Millsap (2006)

Honorable Mentions:

• Mo Williams (2003)
• Gerald Wilkins (1985)
• Alvin Williams (1997)

Suns Taken at 47:

• 2026 will be the Suns first ever pick at No. 47

Paul Millsap is one of those players who always seemed to be around, providing a physical presence and steady production no matter where he played. He’s also one of those players who, in my opinion, benefited from the explosion in NBA salaries that came with the new television rights deals. When he landed his massive contract in 2017, he was getting paid as much for what he had already accomplished as for what he was expected to do moving forward.

And what he accomplished prior to that payday was impressive.

Millsap was a four-time All-Star, a member of the 2007 All-Rookie Team, and an All-Defensive Team selection in 2016. Over the course of a 16-year career, he played for five different organizations and established himself as one of the most dependable power forwards of his era.

His best years came after signing with the Atlanta Hawks as a free agent in 2013. Over the next four seasons, Millsap earned four consecutive All-Star appearances while serving as one of the foundational pieces of a Hawks team that consistently won games and challenged the top teams in the Eastern Conference. During that stretch, he averaged 17.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.7 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game. He impacted every area of the floor. He could score. He could defend. He could rebound. He could create turnovers.

Simply put, he was a problem. Opposing teams had to account for him every night because he affected the game in so many different ways.

When his career finally came to an end, Millsap had played 16 NBA seasons, scored more than 14,000 points, and grabbed over 7,600 rebounds. Those are remarkable numbers for a player selected 47th overall. For someone drafted this late, Millsap wasn’t merely a success story. He became a star.

46. Jeff Hornacek (1986)

Honorable Mentions:

• Jerome Kersey (1984)
• Danny Green (2009)
• Norman Powell (2015)
• James Edwards (1977)

Suns Taken at 46:

• Jeff Hornacek (1986)
• Bruce Dalrymple (1987)
• Ricky Blanton (1989)
• Richard Dumas (1991)
• Gani Lawal (2010)

The 46th overall pick has produced some pretty impressive players over the years. For the Phoenix Suns, it was the draft slot that yielded both Jeff Hornacek and Richard Dumas. You could certainly make the argument that Jerome Kersey is the correct answer here. He won a championship in 1999 and enjoyed an outstanding NBA career. But not for me. I’m going with Jeff Hornacek.

Part of that is admittedly personal. Hornacek is one of the first players I remember watching as a kid when I became a Suns fan. He wasn’t flashy. He wasn’t overwhelmingly athletic. He was simply efficient. Everything he did looked under control.

Hornacek was built in the mold of the old school shooting guard, before the three-point revolution changed the sport. He could shoot it, facilitate, and make smart decisions. During his six seasons with Phoenix, he became one of the most reliable players on the roster, earning an All-Star appearance in 1992 after averaging 20.1 points per game.

That’s a pretty strong résumé for the 46th pick. He’s also one of those players who reminds me a little bit of Mikal Bridges. Not because they played the same way, but because they represent the type of player fans become attached to. The type of player you hate to lose, even when the return is a superstar. The Suns ultimately traded Hornacek to the Philadelphia 76ers as part of the deal that brought Charles Barkley to Phoenix. It was absolutely the right basketball move, but that didn’t make it any easier to say goodbye.

Hornacek would later continue his success with the Utah Jazz, helping the franchise reach the NBA Finals in both 1997 and 1998 alongside Karl Malone and John Stockton. When it was all said and done, Hornacek played 14 seasons in the NBA, averaging 14.5 points and 4.9 assists per game. He shot 40.3% from beyond the arc for his career, an impressive mark considering he averaged fewer than two three-point attempts per game during an era when teams simply didn’t prioritize that shot.

For the Suns, he was a fantastic selection out of Iowa State in the 1986 NBA Draft. And for me, he’s the best player ever selected 46th overall.

45. Bob Dandridge (1969)

Honorable Mentions:

• Antonio Davis (1990)
• Lou Williams (2005)
• Goran Dragic (2008)
• Hot Rod Williams (1985)

Suns Taken at 45:

• Ira Terrell (1976)
• Paul Williams (1983)

A couple of players who made an impact in Phoenix were drafted 45th overall, including Goran Dragic and Hot Rod Williams. But this one isn’t particularly difficult. The answer is Bob Dandridge.

The Milwaukee Bucks had themselves quite a draft in 1969. With the first overall pick, they selected Lew Alcindor out of UCLA. Then, when the fourth round arrived, they used the second pick of that round, 45th overall, to select Bob Dandridge out of Norfolk State. Not bad. Dandridge had also been selected by the Kentucky Colonels in the ABA Draft, but he chose the NBA and the Bucks. It proved to be a pretty smart decision for everyone involved.

What Milwaukee received was a player who became one of the foundational pieces of the franchise for more than a decade.

When people think about the Bucks’ 1971 championship team, they naturally remember Oscar Robertson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Those are the names that dominate the conversation. But Dandridge was a massive contributor to that title run as well. In the NBA Finals against the Baltimore Bullets, he averaged 20.3 points and 9.8 rebounds per game, helping Milwaukee capture the championship.

Years later, he would find himself on the other side of the equation. After joining the Washington Bullets, Dandridge played a key role on the 1978 championship team that defeated the Seattle SuperSonics in seven games. He finished second on the team in scoring during that playoff run, averaging 20.4 points and 7.0 rebounds. To this day, it remains the only championship in franchise history for Washington.

Dandridge spent 13 seasons in the NBA and put together a résumé that is remarkably strong for a player selected 45th overall. He averaged 18.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game during his career. The 6’6″ forward earned four All-Star selections, an All-NBA nod in 1979, and First Team All-Defensive honors that same season.

The final piece of recognition came in 2021, when he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. For a fourth-round pick, that’s an incredible legacy. And when you’re discussing the greatest player ever selected 45th overall, Bob Dandridge stands in a class of his own.

44. Malik Rose (1996)

Honorable Mentions:

• Mike Muscala (2013)
• Brian Cardinal (2000)

Suns Taken at 44:

• Dennis Stewart (1969)
• Greg McDivitt (1970)
• Andrew Harrison (2015)*

*traded to Memphis for Jon Leuer

We go from a draft slot that produced a Hall of Famer to one that doesn’t offer a particularly impressive list of candidates. The best player ever selected 44th overall is Malik Rose. And while that might not jump off the page, Rose carved out a long and productive NBA career for himself.

Drafted by the Charlotte Hornets in 1996 before being dealt to the San Antonio Spurs, Rose became one of those players every good team needs. He wasn’t a star. He wasn’t someone you built a franchise around. But he understood his role and played it well. That’s why he lasted 13 years in the NBA.

The majority of his career was spent in San Antonio, where he played eight seasons and became part of one of the most successful organizations of the era. Along the way, he helped the Spurs capture championships in both 1999 and 2003. Those title teams were built around Tim Duncan, David Robinson, and eventually Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. But Rose was one of the role players who helped make everything work.

His best individual seasons came in the early 2000s when he established himself as one of the better reserve big men in basketball. He finished fourth in Sixth Man of the Year voting in 2002 and sixth in 2003, recognition that reflected the impact he was providing off the bench.

When his career came to a close, Rose had appeared in more than 800 NBA games while averaging 6.2 points and 4.1 rebounds. Those numbers won’t overwhelm anybody. But when you’re evaluating the 44th overall pick, longevity matters. Championships matter. Finding a player who can contribute to winning basketball for more than a decade matters. Malik Rose did all of those things.

43. Michael Redd (2000)

Honorable Mentions:

• Trevor Ariza (2004)
• Eric Snow (1995)
• Isaiah Hartenstein (2017)

Suns Taken at 43:

• Steve Mitchell (1973)
• Ben Davis (1996)

Hey, another guy who spent some time in Phoenix.

Michael Redd was selected 43rd overall in the 2000 NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks, and they got themselves a hell of a player. Redd was a sniper. Over the course of his career, he shot 38.0% from beyond the arc on 4.4 attempts per game, a number that would be even more impressive if he played in today’s NBA. At his peak, he was one of the league’s most dangerous scorers, earning an All-Star selection and an All-NBA Third Team nod in 2004.

What I remember most about Redd is how quickly he could fill up the stat sheet. He was one of those players you feared when your team was playing Milwaukee because he could explode at any moment. In November 2006, he dropped 57 points on the Utah Jazz. Later that same season, he hung 52 on the Chicago Bulls. When he got hot, there wasn’t much you could do about it.

For most of his career, Redd was the face of the Bucks franchise. He spent 11 seasons in Milwaukee and developed into one of the most prolific scorers of the 2000s. Unfortunately, injuries changed everything. In 2009, Redd tore both his ACL and MCL. He worked his way back and returned the following season, only to suffer another ACL and MCL tear in 2010. At that point, the injuries had taken a significant toll on both his athleticism and availability. That’s what ultimately derailed a career that looked destined for even greater heights.

By the time he arrived in Phoenix for the final season of his career in 2011-12, he was 32 years old and no longer the player he had once been. He still averaged 8.2 points per game for the Suns, but shot only 31.8% from three, a far cry from the elite shooter who had terrorized defenses throughout his prime.

42. Stephen Jackson (1997)

Honorable Mentions:

• Zaza Pachulia (2003)
• Patrick Beverley (2009)
• Davis Bertans (2011)

Suns Taken at 42:

• Claude Terry (1972)*
• Joe Reaves (1973)
• Kimberly Belton (1980)
• Stephen Jackson (1997)**

*opted to go to the ABA
**waived before the start of the 1997 season

The 42nd overall pick is a draft slot seemingly defined by agitators. You have Zaza Pachulia, whose closeout on Kawhi Leonard became so infamous that it helped accelerate the league’s emphasis on protecting a shooter’s landing space. You have Patrick Beverley, who built an entire career around getting under opponents’ skin. And then there’s Stephen Jackson, who quite literally went into the stands during the Malice at the Palace and started fighting fans. So yes, this draft slot has a type.

Jackson’s story is an interesting one because even his draft position comes with a little controversy. Basketball Reference lists him as the 43rd overall pick, while NBA.com and Wikipedia list him as the 42nd overall selection. So for the purposes of this exercise, I’m putting him at No. 42.

Jackson was originally drafted by the Phoenix Suns, who promptly waived him. He then played internationally before returning to the NBA with the New Jersey Nets in 2000.

From there, he steadily developed into a productive player. At his peak, Jackson could do a little bit of everything. His best statistical season came in 2008-09 when he averaged 20.7 points, 6.5 assists, and 5.1 rebounds per game. He was a versatile wing who could score, facilitate, defend, and provide a level of toughness every team covets.

Of course, no discussion of Jackson’s career is complete without mentioning the Malice at the Palace.

The 2004-05 Indiana Pacers looked like one of the best teams in basketball and appeared capable of making a serious championship run. Instead, the infamous brawl in Detroit changed everything. Jackson was suspended for 30 games for his role in the incident and placed on probation for a year. The event became one of the defining moments of his career. But it didn’t define his entire career.

Jackson continued playing at a high level for years afterward, ultimately spending 14 seasons in the NBA with eight different franchises. Along the way, he won a championship with the San Antonio Spurs in 2003 and established himself as one of the league’s toughest players. That’s probably why the Spurs loved him. He was physical. He was fearless. He was confrontational. He embraced the dirty work and never backed down from anybody.

Honestly, when you think about it, Stephen Jackson was the perfect Spur, wasn’t he?

41. Nikola Jokic (2014)

Honorable Mentions:

• Cuttino Mobley (1998)
• TR Dunn (1977)
• Jarred Vanderbilt (2018)

Suns Taken at 41:

• Phoenix has technically never drafted from this position, although Koby Brea was selected in 2025 via Golden State

We close out today with not only the best player ever drafted 41st overall, but quite possibly the greatest second-round pick in NBA history. And his career isn’t even over yet.

Nikola Jokic has already redefined what a second-round selection can become. In many ways, he’s shattered every expectation that comes with hearing a player’s name called after the first round has ended. Only two second-round picks have ever won the NBA MVP award. One is Willis Reed. The other is Nikola Jokic. The difference is that Jokic has done it three times.

Only four second-round picks have ever won Finals MVP. Willis Reed did it twice. Dennis Johnson did it once. Jalen Brunson added his name to the list this season with the New York Knicks. And then there’s Jokic, who earned Finals MVP honors in 2023 while leading the Denver Nuggets to their first championship in franchise history.

That’s merely scratching the surface of what he’s accomplished. This past season, Jokic led the NBA in total rebounds and total assists, a statistical feat that feels almost impossible for a center. He’s an eight-time All-Star, an eight-time All-NBA selection, a three-time MVP, an NBA champion, and a Finals MVP. And he’s only 31 years old.

What’s remarkable is that we’re still adding chapters to his story. He has played only 11 seasons in the NBA, yet he’s already forced his way into conversations about the greatest centers ever, the greatest international players ever, and eventually, perhaps, the greatest players ever. Who knows where he’ll ultimately land on those all-time lists?

What we do know is this. There has never been a better player selected 41st overall. And there may never be a better player drafted in the second round.

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Some pretty impressive names in there, aren’t there? It’s a reminder that no draft pick should ever be viewed as a throwaway pick. Sure, second round selections don’t typically carry the same expectations as lottery picks or first rounders. The odds of finding a star are significantly lower. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t value to be found.

This exercise has shown that organizations can still uncover meaningful contributors in the second round. Rotational players, starters, and in rare cases, even stars. The key is having the infrastructure to support them once they arrive. You need player development. You need patience. You need a system that gives those players an opportunity to grow and succeed. When those pieces are in place, the draft slot matters a little less. 

Talent can emerge from anywhere. And as we’ve seen throughout this portion of the countdown, there are plenty of examples of players who far exceeded the expectations attached to their draft position.

Tomorrow, we continue the journey and wrap up the second round as we explore the best players ever selected from picks 40 through 31.

The Warriors possess the No. 11 pick in this month’s NBA draft.

Who they pick with their highest selection since 2021 could hold the cards to not only the final years of Steph Curry’s career but also the future direction of the franchise.

This week, we are profiling five possible prospects GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. could target.

Continuing with Part 2:

Brayden Burries

Age: 20

Position: Guard

Height/weight: 6-foot-4 / 215 pounds

School: Arizona

Why he’s a fit

Without Jimmy Butler or Moses Moody to begin the season, the Warriors need playmakers and point-of-attack defenders who can step in and contribute right away.

Enter Burries, who starred on both sides of the ball as a freshman — the oldest in the class, for what it’s worth — while leading Arizona to the Final Four. The sturdily built combo guard was the Wildcats’ leading scorer at 16.1 points per game and took on their top on-ball matchups.

Steve Kerr and a contingent of Warriors brass traveled to San Jose to watch Arizona in the Sweet 16. Golden State has dipped into Kerr’s alma mater in the draft just once before — second-round guard Nico Mannion in 2019 — so maybe the second time’s the charm.

After one of their NCAA Tournament wins, Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd gave a description of Burries that would be fitting for another unassuming guard around these parts.

“He’s a laid-back, kind-of-unassuming guy, but he has a killer in him,” Lloyd said. “And that’s a beautiful attribute. There’s nothing wrong with being a great human being off the court and being a killer on the court. And he definitely has that combination.”

Why he’ll last until No. 11

Burries won’t look out of place on an NBA court, already weighing more than plenty of his future peers. That said, at 6-4 with only a plus-two wingspan, he will be at a slight disadvantage against most other shooting guards and lacks the speed of a smaller guard.

However, he makes up for it with instincts and athleticism.

His 38.5-inch max vertical leap ranked 18th among all prospects at the combine, and he jumped higher in the standing leap than all but three other guards.

Burries’ underwhelming 2.4 assists per game and inconsistent ball handling have also led evaluators to question whether he can be a primary creator in the NBA.

NBA comp: Derrick White

Burries’ relentless motor and ability to defend the perimeter should make him instantly playable for any NBA coach, even Kerr. Offensively, Burries showed that he can score at all three levels, with efficient 49/39/81 shooting splits as a freshman.

ICYMI

Yaxel Lendeborg could be steal of NBA draft

The 2026 NBA Draft is on the horizon, bringing one of the most significant dates on the league’s calendar. 

Childhood dreams of making it to the NBA will be achieved. 

Teams will turn draft assets into tangible players who they hope will contribute to winning in the short- and long-term future.

And in the background, teams will continue to explore the options that’ll help them achieve their goals for 2026-27. 

For the Lakers, who have a first-round pick in the draft (No. 25), the opportunity the draft presents as it pertains to roster building can’t be whiffed on. 

In their pursuit of assembling a roster that’ll be competitive against the 2026 Western Conference champion Spurs and 2025 NBA champion Thunder, the Lakers have two main options for their first-round pick: trade it for a player who’s ready to compete for a title now alongside Luka Doncic or select a prospect whom they plan to develop and hope will help now and in the future. 

If the Lakers choose the latter, there isn’t a shortage of options.

Toward the top of that list should be UConn big man Tarris Reed Jr., who could contribute to winning from Day 1. 

Tarris Reed Jr., UConn big

2025-26 stats (UConn): 14.7 points (60.7% shooting), 9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2 blocks, 27.3 minutes in 35 games

2024-25 stats (UConn): 9.6 points (67% shooting), 7.3 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, 19.9 minutes in 35 games

2023-24 stats (Michigan): 9 points (51.9% shooting), 7.2 rebounds, 1.1 blocks, 26.6 minutes in 32 games

2022-23 stats (Michigan): 3.4 points (51.7% shooting), 3.9 rebounds, 12.6 minutes in 34 games

Measurements: 6-foot-9 ¾ (without shoes), 263 pounds, 7-foot-4 ¼ wingspan, 9-foot-2 standing reach  

Why draft Tarris Reed Jr.?

Reed is one of the most physically imposing prospects in this year’s draft. 

He weighed in as the second-heaviest player at the combine last month, and he used the combination of his strength, length and coordination to be one of the more dominant players in the paint in men’s college basketball. 

Reed was an uber-efficient scorer inside of the 3-point arc in college. He shot 63.5% on 2s in his two seasons with the Huskies and led the Big East in field-goal percentage (60.7%) in 2025-26 after shooting 67% from the field in 2024-25. 

He has great touch around the rim with both hands and is a skilled post player with a variety of finishes near the basket. As a more experienced prospect (136 college games played), Reed knows how to use his body to create good shots for himself by overpowering and moving through defenders. 

Reed used those physical advantages to dominate the glass, averaging 5.8 defensive rebounds and 3.2 offensive rebounds per game in 2025-26. And he took advantage of those extra scoring opportunities by powering through defenses with putbacks. 

He’s a strong screener who can play out of the short roll, finishing around defenders or spraying the ball out with simple passes after reading the defense.

Defensively, Reed’s strengths start with protecting the rim. He averaged at least 1.4 blocks in his last three college seasons. 

He may not be the most traditionally athletic player, but Reed is a polished big man who should be able to contribute to an NBA team from Day 1 as a backup or third big man in the rotation for a good team. 

Reed doesn’t need touches offensively to make an impact and should be at least solid in a lot of areas. 

Areas of improvement?

Reed didn’t show to be much of a scoring threat outside of the paint, and his low free-throw percentage throughout college (58.2%) suggests that won’t change. 

While he’s a switchable defender, he didn’t show to be an elite athlete by NBA standards in college, which could limit his effectiveness when guarding guards or even quicker forwards. 

Reed can also improve with finishing at the rim when he can’t power through his defender. 

Joshua Jefferson provides an instant injection of high-IQ basketball, physical rebounding, and unique frontcourt playmaking. Should the World Champion New York Knicks bite?

The Basics

• School: Iowa State
• Position: Power Forward
• Height: 6’7.75” (barefoot) | 6’9″ (listed)
• Weight: 246 lbs
• Age: 23 (Born November 21, 2003)
• 2025-26 Stats: 16.4 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 4.8 APG, 47.1% FG, 34.5% 3PT, 70.0% FT
• Projected Draft Range: Late first to early second round (20–35)

The Numbers

Jefferson is one of the most bizarre and productive frontcourt anomalies in recent college basketball history. He became the first player in Big 12 history to rack up 450+ points, 250+ rebounds, 100+ assists, 70+ steals, and 25+ blocks in a single season. One number to take special note of is the 4.8 assists per game. For a guy built like a linebacker, carrying a 246-pound frame with a 6’10.75″ wingspan, operating as a primary hub of an offense is rare. He posted a 28% assist rate, ranking third among all forwards in college basketball.

Even better, he maintained nearly a 2:1 assist-to-turnover ratio (4.8 to 2.5), so he isn’t just hurling wild passes out of double teams. Combine that with a robust 1.6 steals per game (an 8.1% steal rate as a junior), and my, my, my, what an analytics darling!

Skills That Pay the Bills

• High-Level Processing & Playmaking: Jefferson plays like a point guard trapped in a power forward’s body. He is an exceptional short-roll passer, an elbow handoff hub, and a guy who can grab a defensive rebound and lead the break himself. He drops bounce passes on a dime to cutters and processes defensive rotations a step ahead of everyone else.
• Physicality and Functional Strength: At 246 pounds with a rock-solid lower base, Jefferson embraced contact against the collegiate opposition. He carves out position inside effortlessly, converts below-the-rim hooks, and boxes out with discipline, anchoring himself for 7.4 rebounds per game.
• Defensive Event Generation: He might not be a vertical rim protector, but has very active hands. He anticipates passing lanes, strips bigs on the block, and triggers fast breaks.

Concerns

• Functional Athleticism: The combine confirmed a 27-inch standing vertical and a 33-inch max vertical. He lacks pop and has heavier feet laterally. In space, quicker NBA wings are going to test his lateral agility, and he won’t rescue anyone as a weak-side shot-blocker.
• Shooting Hesitancy: While his 3-point stroke ticked up to a respectable 34.5% on 3.1 attempts per game, the film shows a guy who frequently passes up wide-open looks to back down into a contested post-up. Scouts at the combine noted that while his mechanics look sound and tight, his confidence is streaky. A 70% free-throw clip also leaves some questions about his ultimate ceiling as a knockdown spacer.
• Age & Ceiling: Turning 24 during his rookie season, Jefferson is an older prospect.

The Knicks Fit

Think of Jefferson as a hybrid connective piece who could be an ideal bench multi-tool. If Mike Brown could deploy Jefferson with the second unit, making as a secondary facilitator from the high post or elbow. He plays with the high-IQ, physical, dive-on-the-floor toughness that we love to see. Jefferson can give you backup power forward minutes, play small-ball center in ultra-specific configurations, and hit the glass hard. At worst? He hangs out in the G-League with Westchester while adjusting his defensive footwork to the pro pace.

NBA Comparison

• Best-Case Comparison: James Johnson / Boris Diaw
• Median Outcome: Kyle Anderson (Slower-paced, highly intelligent decision-maker who fills the stat sheet without elite verticality)
• Low-End Outcome: Grant Williams without the lock-down lateral quickness

The Verdict

Drafting him at 24th seems like a stretch. But at 31st? Go for it.

Read all our draft profiles here.

Go Knicks!

The 2026 NBA season has officially ended and the New York Knicks were crowned the 2026 NBA Champions. After Game 5, Victor Wembanyama stated, “Our domination stints are absolute. We absolutely dominated for most of the series. But our errors, our mistakes, are punished so hard that we can’t have ups and downs like this.”

Wemby took some flack on social media for the comment. But mathematically speaking, he was correct.

According to ESPN Analytics, in the 4 games the Spurs lost in the NBA Finals, they had a…

— 91.6% chance of winning Game 1 up 13 points midway thru the 3rd
— 72.8% chance of winning Game 2 up 2 points with 1 minute left in the 4th
— 99.6% chance of winning Game 4 up 20 points… pic.twitter.com/WkOw0shz7W

— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) June 14, 2026

“According to ESPN Analytics, in the 4 games the Spurs lost in the NBA Finals, they had a 91% chance of winning Game 1 up 13 midway through the 3rd, 72,8 chance of winning Game 2 up 2 points with 1 minute left in the 4th, a 99.6% chance of winning Game 4 up 20 points, and a 95.4% chance of winning Game 5 up 10 points with 7:54 left in the 4th.”

Obviously, there were problems closing out games which will be a major focus next season. But in three of the four games, the Spurs had over 90% chance of winning during the second half. The Knicks did the impossible while the Spurs did the unthinkable.

FYI: I ordered Midrange Theory By Seth Partnow. It should come next week. For anyone who wants to read and discuss along. Thanks for the suggestion Montreal. I assume zsals is in?

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