At the start of every NBA season, we — fans, media, people in and around the league — go in certain we know how things are going to play out. A year ago, the Thunder were the clear favorites to repeat, and the young Spurs were barely going to make the playoffs, and it looked like Cleveland might be due in the East. None of that played out quite as expected.
This season, again it feels like there are clear favorites, and again we're likely going to be wrong. To get a bigger picture, we have invited a bunch of NBA writers from around NBCSports.com to answer a few questions and make their picks for the upcoming NBA season. We can't all be wrong… can we?
The defending champion New York Knicks are largely running it back and return the most complete roster in the East. They will set the bar, but if one team is going to rise up and beat them, which one will it be?
Kurt Helin, NBC lead NBA writer: I don't fully trust anybody in the East, but for the purposes of this question I'll take the Philadelphia 76ers here. Begrudgingly. Obviously, the question with Philly isn't the talent: Jaylen Brown and Tyrese Maxey are All-NBA-level players, LeBron is still a top-20ish player in the league at age 41, and Joel Embiid can be a force when healthy. I don't even believe the question is how it will all fit together, I think there are a lot of high IQ guys in Philly who will sacrifice and make it work. The question is simply health, specifically Embiid's health in the playoffs. If the 76ers can pull it all together, they are the biggest threat to the Knicks.
Raphielle Johnson, NBC Sports Fantasy basketball lead analyst: I hate to be boring, but it's Philadelphia. The additions of LeBron James and Jaylen Brown were huge, but the overall rotation should be loaded. Beyond the starters, guys like Anfernee Simons, Dean Wade and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope can provide needed depth off the bench. The 76ers' issue is the center position, especially if Joel Embiid's availability remains in question. Ariel Hukporti is out for the season with a torn Achilles, and Adem Bona hasn't played in the preseason with a sprained foot. Philadelphia, especially if they can improve their center depth at some point, would be my pick to come out of the East if it isn't New York.
Drew Dinsick, NBC Sports betting analyst: Right now I have a narrow gap for the top two in the East between New York and the Boston Celtics; they both rate as approximately +8.0 (points vs average on a neutral) and I actually have fewer questions and see more upside potential with Boston. The full return of Jayson Tatum remains underappreciated by the market and I think they did a nice job building complementary pieces around him to have a more complete team for the playoffs this spring. They are also extremely well coached and have a deep bench so it is more likely they will be a Top 3 seed than some of the other boom-or-bust contenders in the East. There is one other potential sleeper in the East I have my eye on that we cover below.
Eric Samulski, NBC Sports content creator: Everybody is likely going to pivot to the 76ers, and there are valid reasons for that, but I'm going in another direction. The Cavaliers have been putting themselves in a good spot to take the Eastern Conference crown and simply been unable to do it. We know they have the high-end talent in Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen, but the team never quite delivers when they need to. I loved the addition of Peyton Watson as a two-way piece on the wing, and Jaylon Tyson got tons of experience last year and could use that to become a legit bench weapon for the Cavs.
Out West, San Antonio and Oklahoma City are the juggernauts and the obvious teams to beat. Is there a team that can rise up and challenge them? If so, who will it be?
Helin: If we're being honest, as long as OKC and San Antonio are healthy, I don't think anyone else in the West can beat them. But if I am picking a team, it's the Houston Rockets. This was a 52-win team with a top-10 offense and defense last season, but they struggled mightily in the clutch (-8.8 net rating). Getting Fred VanVleet back as a floor general will change that. This team still has Kevin Durant to get a bucket when they need it, has plenty of athletes like Amen Thompson, good defenders to match up with teams, and a do-it-all big on offense in Alperen Sengun. You can make a case for the Lakers, Timberwolves or Nuggets to be this team, but I think Houston is the class of them and can threaten the Thunder and Spurs (as much as any team can).
Johnson: I really like Minnesota. Yes, LaMelo Ball has yet to play an official playoff game, but the Timberwolves have the talent and experience to compensate for that. Not only does his addition make Minnesota more dynamic on the perimeter, but Ball should also help with the team's vibe. They've won at least one playoff series each of the last two seasons, and Anthony Edwards may have the perimeter sidekick he needs to take another step in his development.
Dinsick: Probably not (the gap between the top 2 and the pack is staggering), but if there is a surprise it will likely be the Minnesota Timberwolves. This is a really fascinating team build with a ton of options for offensive creation and a high floor defense anchored by Gobert. They could also implode in spectacular fashion but I'm very intrigued to see a starting backcourt of Ant and Ball in a best-of-seven playoff series against the monsters in the West.
Samulski: The Nuggets will always be an option because they did it before and still have Nikola Jokic. However, my pick is the Houston Rockets. If you're going to take down the Thunder or Spurs, which is a long shot, then you need somebody who can score with any player on the court, and Kevin Durant can do that. You also need athletic or strong big men like Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason, and Steven Adams. Marcus Smart is another rugged defender off the bench, and the Rockets will now have Fred VanVleet to steer the ship. Factor in ascending young players like Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard, and a dynamic center in Alperen Sengun, and the Rockets have a puncher's chance.
Each of the past four years, we have seen a team mesh at the right time to find a magical chemistry where the whole became greater than the sum of its parts. Those teams all made a run to the Finals (and the Knicks won it all). Which team is poised to follow that path this season?
Helin: The Indiana Pacers. They were on that magical run two seasons ago, riding it all the way to Game 7 of the NBA Finals, and this season they get Tyrese Haliburton back. You can't underestimate how much he changes the game — the Pacers offense has much better flow and feel this preseason, even with Haliburton shaking off the rust. Pascal Siakam is underrated, and he and Haliburton are surrounded by quality role players — Ivica Zubac, Obi Toppin, Andrew Nembhard, T.J. McConnell, Aaron Nesmith — and this team could get on another run.
Johnson: Indiana. I wouldn't say people are sleeping on the Pacers, but they have the depth and talent to be a problem this season. Tyrese Haliburton is back after missing all of last season, and his return should boost everyone on that roster. Ivica Zubac is a different center than Myles Turner; he'll roll to the basket instead of pop for three-pointers in the two-man game, but he offers much more as a rebounder. That skill should help the Pacers' guards and wings play faster and apply more pressure to opposing defenses.
Dinsick: The potential surprise contender for me is the Toronto Raptors who are currently priced as the 7th best team in the East despite a meaningful upgrade on offense with Kawhi who was near his career high in efficiency last season. The addition of Kawhi will make life easier for Barrett, Quickley and Barnes who were all positive impact players offensively last season and they have no serious weakness on defense with their closing five, especially if Collin Murray-Boyles makes the expected leap this season. A healthy squad in April will open the door for a deep run by this group in the softer Eastern Conference.
Samulski: In my opinion, if this is going to happen, it's going to happen in the Eastern Conference again, where things feel more wide open. I'm gonna go with the Orlando Magic. Which I know is a wild call, but the Magic starting five of Jalen Suggs, Desmond Bane, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, and Wendell Carter Jr. was one of the best five-man units in basketball last year. They were just rarely healthy together. Perhaps that changes this year and they can also bring Anthony Black, Nikola Vucevic, and Tristan Da Silva off the bench. It's a prediction based on the strength of the starting five, but that was the Knicks' strength too.
What is your predicted NBA Finals matchup, and who will Adam Silver hand the Larry O’Brien trophy to?
Helin: The New York Knicks make it back to the NBA Finals, but this time they run into a healthy Oklahoma City team and that is a bad matchup for New York. Oklahoma City was the best team in the NBA last season — 64 wins, +11.1 net rating — but not having a healthy Jaylen Williams or Ajay Mitchell as a secondary shot creator against the Spurs did them in. This year I expect them to be healthy and take it all. That said, if the Spurs make a leap this season behind Victor Wembanyama and dominate the league, I'm not going to be surprised.
Johnson: I like the Spurs over the 76ers, with Victor Wembanyama winning the first of what could be many NBA titles.
Dinsick: The playoff path in the West goes through San Antonio until further notice while Toronto stuns the East, setting up a super fun Finals matchup that sees the Spurs reclaim the crown and Wemby's first ring.
Samulski: As a New Yorker, I know this can't happen two years in a row for the Knicks, so I'm going to say that this is a Thunder and Cavs NBA Finals, with the Thunder winning it all.
If you clicked on this (on purpose or by accident), then you are officially a Wolves sicko (lupo-phile?), a basketball sicko, or at the very least: my tribe of people.
I scoff when I hear Timberwolves fans declare they are “diehard Wolves fans” and try to prove their ball knowledge by naming off players like Oleksiy Pecherov, Jeff Adrien, or Gundars Vētra. Please. If you’re really from the most engrossed ilk of Wolves fans, then you’d pull some names from their development team. Their summer league teams. Training camp rosters. Names that maybe never even donned a Wolves jersey, but they sure as hell tried.
Well, you actually can’t know the Iowa Wolves history without first knowing the Iowa Energy history. The Energy were the affiliate for several other NBA teams during their inception, beginning with the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat. It wasn’t until the midway through the ‘16-‘17 season where the Timberwolves purchased the exclusive rights to the Energy and rebranded them as the Iowa Wolves.
Ipso facto, the Timberwolves technically own the history of the Energy, even if they weren’t always associated with Minnesota. Consider it the same as Los Angeles stealing five championships from Minneapolis. If they can enshrine George Mikan in bronze, then Iowa should be able to do the same for Curtis Stinson.
Speaking of legends, that brings us to why we’re here. I can understand why reading a 3,000+ word wall of text detailing the history of the Iowa Energy/Wolves may not be so palatable. So instead, I’ll throw readers a bone and instead give you an old school Bleacher Report style:
Top 5 Iowa Wolves Players: You won’t believe who’s number one!! 👀😱
There might be certain players you expect to see high on this list like Luka Garza, Nate Knight, or Craig Randall II (real ones know), but alas their stints with Iowa were but just a small handful of games, or less than two seasons. In the long Iowa Wolves history, they are but just brief sparkles in the franchise’s existence.
Let’s begin with the names!
Honorable Mentions
Michael Haynes | Stefhon Hannah | Shy Ely
MIN
PTS
REB
AST
STL
BLK
Michael Haynes
39.4
21.0
6.7
2.7
2.0
1.0
Stefhon Hannah
35.8
18.3
6.7
6.0
2.3
0.0
Shy Ely
25.1
13.0
4.3
0.7
0.7
0.0
*2011 G League finals stats
This trio, plus a player we’ll name later, formed the main supporting cast around league MVP Curtis Stinson during Iowa’s 2011 championship run. You would imagine he was flanked by former D-League MVPs in Othyus Jeffers and Courtney Sims, but both were not with the team during their magical postseason run.
Iowa has only ever achieved one G League title in their 19 season history. They did so in dramatic fashion, defeating the Rio Grande Valley Vipers (Houston Rockets affiliate) by a final series score of 2-1. The Energy, led by future NBA Coach of the Year Nick Nurse, were down nine points near the end of the third quarter in game three, but they used a huge 21-5 run early in the fourth to claim control of the game. They did so even without their captain and best player, Stinson, who suffered an injury in the first half.
That’s three MVPs they were missing while being down heading into the fourth quarter.
Starting point guard Stefhon Hannah and backup guard Shy Ely, both who made the team via open tryouts, combined for 48 points to help Iowa close out the series. Starting power forward, Michael Haynes, was also a consistent force on both ends of the court, notching 21 points and five stocks in the final game as well.
Without this trinity of fine gentlemen, it’s likely Iowa never hoists the championship trophy.
Damien Wilkins | Luka Garza | Leonard Miller
GP
PTS
REB
AST
STL
BLK
Damien Wilkins
50
20.2
5.7
3.6
1.4
0.6
Luka Garza
18
31.7
10.5
3.4
0.7
1.4
Leonard Miller
51
21.8
9.8
3.1
1.0
0.9
*Iowa G League stats
These are three guys who all dominated in their short stints with Iowa, earning All-Star honors or recognitions as Player of the Month/Week along the way. They were so good that they all had opportunities with the Timberwolves main squad.
Damien Wilkins, the nephew of Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins, was actually the uncommon player who actually spent nine years playing on various NBA teams before eventually finding himself in the G League at age 34. He joined Iowa for just one season in ‘14-‘15, earning All-Star and All-League 3rd Team honors in the process. However, he’ll be most known for his game-winner in game one of the ‘09-‘10 season for the Wolves. Minnesota was on track for 82-0 thanks to Wilkins, who played 80 games for Minnesota, even starting in 31 of them!
Man, what a bad team that was.
We all remember Luka Garza fondly. Garza-illa dominated the G League like he did in garbage time throughout his career. His 31.7 point per game career average with Iowa is the highest in franchise history of any player that participated in at least 10 games. The current Boston Celtic has had to grind his way to an opportunity with the big clubs, but boy did he earn it. He mostly got mop up duty during his 97-game career with the Timberwolves, but he still had a few bright spots in real games as well. Garza having been a local Iowa hero also helped bring crowds to their games.
Meanwhile, our prodigal son Leonard Miller will hopefully have a more consistent opportunity with the Chicago Bulls this upcoming season. He was fairly dominant in his time with Iowa across two seasons, earning a Player of the Month and two Performer of the Week honors. Lenny averaged nearly 20 points and 10 rebounds during his two seasons at Casey’s Center, quickly becoming fan favorite.
Cartier Martin kicks off our official list. The 6’7” forward spent four collegiate seasons at Kansas State, winning Big 12 Sixth Many of the Year, before declaring for the 2007 NBA draft (the Corey Brewer draft).
After all 30 teams passed on him, Martin went undrafted.
The Houston native found an opportunity overseas, like many undrafted players do. He spent his first professional season in the Turkish league, but quickly came back stateside. In the 2008 NBA D-League draft, the Iowa Energy picked him 15th overall, beginning his five season stint with the franchise. Martin was excellent right from the jump, averaging over 20 points per game for the Energy in his first season. He was named an All-Star and made the All-League 3rd team.
It’s likely that Cartier would’ve been higher on this list had he not gotten so many call-ups to NBA teams. Seven different teams signed him to 10-day contracts or better, limiting his ability to play full seasons in the G. In fact, he missed out on contributing to the aforementioned 2011 title run because he appeared in 52 games with the Washington Wizards. In total, he appeared in 240 NBA games compared to just 96 G League games.
Martin was almost an Iowa lifer though, had it not been for his brief six game stint with the Windy City Bulls to wrap up his time in the NBA/G League. Martin finished his career fourth all-time in both total points scored and free throws made, and third in three-pointers made in Iowa Wolves franchise history.
The player that I teased earlier when discussing the core of the 2011 Iowa Energy championship roster was none other than Moses Ehambe. Moses was the starting small forward for Iowa who averaged 14.8 points in the regular season that year, but bumped that up to an astounding 24.7 points (8.6 3PA) on .500/.500/.929 splits in the three-game finals series.
Why might Ehambe’s mug or name look familiar to you?
Moses spent three years with the Timberwolves in various roles from 2023-2025. He was an assistant coach focusing on player development. He always brought his positive attitude and laughter to those around him, so it’s no surprise he won the G League Sportsmanship Award in 2012.
Ehambe ranks number one in total three-pointers made in Iowa franchise history (293) and with the way the league functions now, it’s unlikely anyone will ever touch that record. He is integral to telling the organization’s history and is an awesome story about winning both on and off the court. Moses is third all-time in games played for the Energy.
Now enjoy this very 2014 coded video by the Iowa Energy, commemorating when Ehambe (once) became the league’s top three-point shooter!
3. Courtney Sims
Seasons: 4 Games Played: 104 Iowa Statistics: 30.9 MIN | 17.8 PTS | 9.1 REB | 1.1 AST | 0.4 STL | 1.4 BLK | 58.3 FG% | 28.6 3P% | 74.1 FT% Individual Accolades: 1x MVP (2009), 1x All-League 1st Team (2009), 2x All-Star (2009, 2011), 1x ASG MVP, 2x Player of the Month, 2x Performer of the Week
We’ve now arrived at the big three.
Checking in at number three on this list is Courtney Sims. The 6’11” undrafted center spent four years at University of Michigan, earning ‘03-‘04 Big Ten All-Freshman honors. Like Wilkins, Sims actually appeared in a real NBA game before ever joining the D-League. He played just a few garbage time games for the Indiana Pacers before ultimately landing with Iowa in their inaugural ‘07-‘08 roster.
Courtney was awesome right from the jump.
He averaged over 15 points in his rookie season, but really exploded in his sophomore year. Sims dominated the paint, beginning his next season with a 22/17/11 (blocks) triple-double. He had some cups of tea with the Suns and Knicks on 10-day contracts, but largely remained with Iowa where he played 32 games, averaging career-highs of 22.8 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game. He was named an All-Star, MVP of the All-Star Game, All-League 1st Team, and league MVP.
Courtney Sims is the ONLY CENTER in G League history to win MVP! 🏆
During the 2008-09 season, the 6’11” big man averaged 22.8 PPG & 11.0 RPG to lead the Iowa Energy to the No. 1 record in the Central Division. That year, he took home league MVP & All-Star Game MVP honors. pic.twitter.com/GZc5KFQm0Q
Unfortunately for Iowa, Sims played so well that New York called him up to wrap up the NBA season. Without their MVP and their defensive anchor, Iowa fell in the first round of the playoffs Dakota Wizards (now Santa Cruz Warriors). Speaking of guys, Dakota was led by classic Wolves summer league guy, Blake Ahearn.
Sims didn’t return back to Iowa until late January the following season, playing just a forgettable month before ending a short 14-game season with the Wolves. He bounced back in strong fashion during the ‘10-‘11 season for Iowa. Just like he did two seasons ago, he was terrific in the post, averaging 16.7 points and 9.6 rebounds per game on his way to another All-Star (and ASG MVP) year.
2011 was the season that Iowa won the D-League championship, but also similar to 2009, Sims was once again absent. This time, he terminated his contract early for an opportunity to play in the Chinese Basketball Association with the Dongguan Leopards. Maybe he has some restaurant recommendations he can share with D’Angelo Russell.
And that’s how it all ended for the big man in Iowa.
Courtney Sims finished four seasons with the Energy with the following ranks in franchise history:
4th games played
3rd total minutes
3rd total wins
3rd total points
3rd total rebounds
1st total blocks
2nd offensive win shares
3rd defensive win shares
2. Othyus Jeffers
Seasons: 5 Games Played: 184 Iowa Statistics: 35.9 MIN | 19.1 PTS | 8.3 REB | 3.1 AST | 2.0 STL | 0.2 BLK | 50.2 FG% | 30.3 3P% | 72.8 FT% Individual Accolades: 1x MVP (2014), 1x All-League 1st Team (2014), 1x All-League 2nd Team (2011), 2x All-Defensive 1st Team (2011, 2014), 1x All-Defensive 3rd Team (2013), 3x All-Star (2009, 2011, 2014), Rookie of the Year (2009), 1x Player of the Month, 3x Performer of the Week
Othyus Jeffers is on my list of all-time player names. The stalky wing plays like one of those nightmare local YMCA matchups that you’ve likely come across. Built like a football player and plays with the aggressiveness of a football player. He will not let you have fun.
Jeffers is another classic case of an unheralded college player who started in community college and eventually made his way into the NCAA and NAIA. He had an extremely tough childhood growing up, losing multiple family members due to gun violence in his hometown of Chicago. But Jeffers always kept his focus on his hoops. In his final season with Robert Morris University, he was named NAIA Player of the Year.
You may recognize Othyus’ name not just for its uniqueness, but because he played constantly vacillated between the G League and the NBA. As an undrafted player 2008, he signed multiple summer league, training camp, 10-day, and even multiple-year offers from teams like the Jazz, Spurs, Wizards, and the Wolves, totaling 37 games in the league.
But Iowa was always his basketball home.
He was drafted by the Energy in the third round of the 2008 D-League draft after his collegiate career, immediately producing 21.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 2.1 steals per game. Jeffers cruised to winning the D-League Rookie of the Year award. He was part of that division-leading ‘08-‘09 Iowa team, who lost Sims prior to the playoffs. Despite the single-game elimination loss, he still posted a wild stat line of 31 points, 14 rebounds, four assists, one steal, and two blocks on 72.2% shooting from the floor for Iowa. Weirdly enough, this was Jeffers’ only playoff appearance for Iowa due to future call-ups to the NBA.
Othyus spent some time playing overseas in Italy the following year before once again rejoining Iowa later in the season. As mentioned earlier, he wasn’t able to join his fellow Energy teammates in the postseason due to an opportunity with the Jazz in March that lasted all the way through the following preseason. He ultimately missed their final ‘10-‘11 season roster cut.
Here’s a clip of him dunking of Wolves legend, Lou Amundson.
Despite the tough cut, Iowa was happy to welcome back Othyus with open arms.
“Wolverine,” as his teammates had called him growing up due to his ability to quickly bounce back from injuries, was on track for another stellar season in the D-League. He helped lead the Energy to the number one division seed for the third straight year. Once again, he received another call up just before the D-League playoffs, this time with the Wizards. As such, Jeffers missed out on Iowa’s 2011 title run, but looked to have a promising opportunity with Washington at seemingly the peak of his powers. He was on track to receive a regular season contract after playing well for the Wizards, but heartbreakingly torn his ACL over the summer during a workout.
Jeffers spent a year rehabbing before joining — you guessed it — the Iowa Energy.
Wolverine certainly lost a step after a major injury like that, but he was still potent enough to make the All-Defensive Third Team. In summer of 2013, the Timberwolves and Othyus finally crossed paths as he joined their Las Vegas Summer League team. Unfortunately, just like three years ago, he narrowly lost out the battle for the final roster spot to Robbie Hummel.
Unphased by the cut, Jeffers was a man on a mission. He posted incredible season averages of 20.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 2.2 steals. Before he was named one of the co-MVPs of the ‘13-’14 D-League season, the Timberwolves called up Othyus for the remainder of the NBA season. This would be Othyus’ final run in the NBA and the G League, as he ultimately found his way to the Philippine Basketball Association, finishing his pro career abroad.
Jeffers’ name will always be synonymous with the Energy. He’s a tale of grit, dedication, and an unwavering belief in himself. Here are Wolverine’s impressive final franchise marks:
2nd games played
2nd total minutes
2nd total wins
1st total points
1st total rebounds
2nd total assists
2nd total steals
1st total free throws made
1st offensive win shares
2nd defensive win shares
1. Curtis Stinson
Seasons: 6 Games Played: 212 Iowa Statistics: 39.5 MIN | 15.1 PTS | 5.6 REB | 8.6 AST | 1.7 STL | 0.3 BLK | 46.2 FG% | 21.6 3P% | 76.9 FT% Individual Accolades: 1x champion (2011), 1x MVP (2011), 2x All-League 1st Team (2010, 2011), 2x All-Star (2010, 2011), 2x Player of the Month, 4x Performer of the Week
Where do we begin with the man that has a name I’ve seen pop up as an auto-generated NBA2K NPC?
Curtis Stinson, a native of the Bronx, was a late bloomer to the game. He grew up in a time where his high school competition was future Wolves legend, Sebastian Telfair. While Telfair jumped straight to the league, Stinson instead found his opportunity playing for Iowa State University (I wonder if he was at that preseason game last week, booing Braden Smith?). A state that didn’t have any pro hoops there yet.
He was a standout right from the get-go.
Curtis was named Big 12 Rookie of the Year in 2004 and then enjoyed two more productive years with his best friend, Will Blalock. Both Stinson and Blalock led the Cyclones to the second round of the NCAA tournament, but bumped into the eventual champion North Carolina Tarheels in 2005. A year later, they both declared for the 2006 NBA draft.
Just like the other names on this list, he spent his early pro years abroad. A quick walk in the park in Croatia. Then in Greece. His NBA career, despite having his D-League rights traded around before he even appeared in a single game, didn’t start until February 2008 with the Utah Flash (now Delaware Blue Coats). He spent just a month with Utah before getting cut, then signing for a month with the Austin Toros (now Austin Spurs), ultimately getting traded to the Iowa Energy by the end of the season.
Casey’s Center, the home of the Iowa Energy, was just 30 minutes away from where Curtis got an opportunity to play college ball.
Beginning in the ‘08-‘09 season, Stinson hit the gas. He appeared in all 50 games for the Energy before losing in the first round in the aforementioned Dakota Wizards game, without then MVP teammate Courtney Sims.
Stinson really turned on the afterburners in the ensuing season, averaging a 15.2 point, 10.9 assist double-double throughout an All-Star and All-League 1st Team campaign. He nearly averaged a triple-double in Iowa’s postseason run, pushing Iowa to the second round without future MVP Othyus Jeffers.
The stars finally aligned in the ‘10-‘11 season where he had a career year. Curtis boasted averages of 18.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 9.6 assists en route to winning league MVP. As spoiled above, Stinson was outrageous in the playoffs for Iowa. He was scoring 24.4 points per game on over 50% shooting without Sims nor Jeffers at his side.
Perhaps his candle burned too bright though.
Sadly, in the first half of the deciding game three finals against the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, the 27-year-old MVP went down with a hip injury at the start of the second quarter. He had just posted two straight triple-doubles in games one and two, but could hardly see the court in the ultimate game. He tried to power through the injury, managing 10 sporadic minutes the rest of the game, but couldn’t survive the final quarter as the game hung in the balance. His sacrifice was worthy, as he was still able celebrate the 2011 title thanks to his less-heralded teammates.
Till this day, that 2011 Iowa Energy title is the only championship that is associated with the Timberwolves organization, including summer league, In-Season Tournament, or NBA Finals.
As is commonplace in the G League, the Iowa team looked significantly different the next season. His recent play had earned him various opportunities around the world, but he also picked up a few injuries along the way. It wasn’t until January 2012 when he returned to Iowa. Without his star backcourt running mate Jeffers (injury) nor his head coach Nick Nurse, Stinson couldn’t hoist the Energy past the Los Angeles D-Fenders (now Coachella Valley Lakers) in the first round the the playoffs.
With 30 years of age on the horizon, Curtis would need to consider his shelf life in professional sports. He spent the ‘12-‘13 season away from Iowa, opting to go abroad for various leagues, but once again, all roads led back to Iowa for his final season in the NBA. He was longer in the tooth at this point, but still averaged 10.4 points and 7.1 assists for the Energy. They fell short in the postseason again, but Stinson once again showed up big to the tune of 23.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 8.0 assists averages. They poetically lost to the Vipers, headed by his former coach Nick Nurse, in the series 1-2.
Curtis never appeared in an official NBA regular season game despite appearing on six different summer league teams and three different G League teams. However, you can say his impact was far bigger than just trying to collect some garbage time in the NBA.
He is Mr. Iowa Energy.
“It is truly an honor to have my jersey retired by the Iowa Energy organization… I will never forget the amazing games, our great fans and of course the championship we brought to Des Moines in 2011.”
The 6’3” PG won the 2011 MVP, led the Iowa Energy to the 2011 title, and ranks first on the G’s all-time assists list. At the end of his career, he had his No. 10 jersey retired in Iowa. #NBAAssistWeekpic.twitter.com/UIN9XWTSFO
There are a few other names I could shoutout, but we’ve exceeded 4,000 words here.
Marcus “Gorgeous” Georges-Hunt has the highest points per game average (34.0) despite appearing in just one game in 2018. Amile Jefferson was the first player in the “Iowa Wolves era” to win an end-of-the-season award that same year (All-League 2nd Team, All-Defensive 1st Team). Naz Reid is arguably the best player to have ever suited up for for Iowa in 2020. Current Iowa Wolf, Martez Brown, who was an open tryout player, has a chance to become the longest tenured “Iowa Wolves Era” player if he’s active for another full season.
Are there any names missing from this list?
I still have a few up my sleeve, but I’m curious to see if any of you true, nasty, sickos can guess who they are. Now go impress your significant others, friends, coworkers, random person at a sports bar with this new bag of knowledge.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 1: Ryan Rollins #13 of the Milwaukee Bucks plays and over-the-head pass past Matas Buzelis #14 of the Chicago Bulls during the first half at the United Center on March 1, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Milwaukee Bucks are back home tonight to play the Chicago Bulls in game four of the preseason. The Bucks fell to the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday in an all-around clunker. Almost as soon as Milwaukee’s starters began to sub out, it looked like the offense was playing in mud, highlighted by a stellar 0/8 performance by the man the Bucks are currently being investigated over: Gary Trent Jr. Milwaukee also lost the offensive rebound battle for the first time this preseason—an area they will need to emphasize if they hope to stay in games this year. The Bucks can chalk that up to growing pains and put it in the rearview mirror as they take on a Bulls team featuring this year’s fourth overall pick, Caleb Wilson.
The Task Ahead
The Chicago Bulls are entering this year with low expectations; many preseason predictions list them alongside the Bucks as a lock for a bottom-five finish. Much like the Bucks, the Bulls found themselves firmly in the bottom 5-10 of just about every team metric last season, and despite hovering around .500 until the All-Star Break, the Bulls saw their record bottom out in March as they ended the year with a 31-51 record, good for 12th in the East. Chicago had luck on their side, however, as the lottery balls bounced them to the fourth overall pick in this year’s draft, where they selected Caleb Wilson (who comes into the year with loads of hype). Wilson made waves immediately, with reports that he was taking between 2,000 and 2,500 shots a day during Summer League.
Long story short, Caleb Wilson represents a bright future for a fanbase that has endured mediocrity for too long. The Bulls have been searching for their next star since Derrick Rose was severely injured in Game 1 of the 2012 Eastern Conference Playoffs, and in Wilson, they might have found it. The Bulls also signed veterans Norman Powell and Nic Claxton to bring experience to what has suddenly become a very young group. To top it off, Chicago welcomed Tiago Splitter as their new head coach, replacing Billy Donovan. All in all, a very productive few months in the Windy City.
Injury Report
The Bulls held Zach Collins, Tobe Awaka, and Isaac Okoro out of practice yesterday, and none are expected to play against Milwaukee. They join Jaylin Sellers, who did not play Sunday against the Nuggets, and Nic Claxton, who sustained a hamstring injury and will be re-evaluated next week before the regular season tip-off.
The Bucks, meanwhile, announced that they would re-evaluate Nate Ament just before the season opener against Washington. There have been no other updates on anyone else.
Player to Watch
On Saturday, Milwaukee announced that Brayden Burries would not play against the Hornets; Taylor Jenkins told the media that the team was still trying different rotations and lineups. After watching Gary Trent Jr., Caris LeVert, and Kevin Porter Jr. build the Bucks a home—brick by brick—now is as good a time as any to let Burries feature more heavily off the bench. The 21-year-old uses his size to get downhill, and he’s shown he is not afraid to draw contact—exactly the brand of basketball many fans want to see. Against the Thunder, Burries led a late-game charge to secure the win, scoring 16 points and grabbing five rebounds and two steals. Expect Burries to impose his will against the Bulls.
Projected Starters
Bucks
Position
Thunder
Ryan Rollins
PG
Josh Giddey
Tyler Herro
SG
Norman Powell
Jaime Jaquez Jr.
SF
Matas Buzelis
Kyle Kuzma
PF
Caleb Wilson
Myles Turner
C
Jalen Smith
Game Details
Who: Milwaukee Bucks (1-2) vs. Chicago Bulls (1-2)
NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 3: Kon Knueppel #7 of the Charlotte Hornets drives to the basket during the game against the New York Knicks on December 3, 2025 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Kon Knueppel, as most of our readers probably know, comes from a serious basketball family. His mother and father played in college where both were their school’s all-time leading scorers, one uncle played briefly in the NBA, two uncles coach in college, all four brothers are promising prospects, and one cousin now plays for Illinois.
Early on, though, somewhat to the surprise of his family, the former Duke star, and current Charlotte Hornet, wasn’t all that interested in basketball. What changed his mind?
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 13: A Los Angeles Dodgers groundscrew worker paints the postseason logo on the field before the Milwaukee Brewers workout prior to the NLCS at Dodger Stadium on October 13, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) | Getty Images
LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers are back home, looking for their first win of the 2026 National League Championship Series, with Game 3 at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium.
“No one knows what’s going to happen tomorrow and the ensuing days,” manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday. “At the end of the day in this big moment, we’re listening to Shohei, and we’re going to support the crap out of him and believe in him, and that’s it.”
Much like the Dodgers are trying to turn things around in this series, Snell is trying to turn things around after needing 90 pitches to record only 11 outs in Game 2 of the NL Division Series against the Atlanta Braves on October 4. Snell walked five in that game, though only one run was charged to his ledger in a game the Dodgers eventually lost 3-2.
Left-hander Robert Gasser starts for the Brewers, looking for some redemption of his own. He lost both starts against the Dodgers in the regular season (May 23 and August 14), allowing a total of seven runs in 10 2/3 innings. Gasser started Game 3 of the NLDS for Milwaukee in San Diego, and allowed one run in four innings, with three strikeouts.
It certainly didn’t take long for Fraser Minten’s recent contract extension (seven years, $50.4 million) to look like an absolute bargain for the Boston Bruins.
The 22-year-old center, who was acquired as part of the Brandon Carlo trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs in March of 2025, had a strong 2025-26 season and has already started the current campaign in excellent form.
Minten scored two goals in Tuesday night’s 6-3 road win over the San Jose Sharks. The victory improved Boston’s record to 5-2-0 and moved the Original Six club into first place in the Atlantic Division.
Minten opened the scoring almost 13 minutes into the first period.
After the Sharks pulled to within one goal in the third period after capitalizing on the power play, Minten was rewarded for his hard net drive and capped off a pretty passing sequence by the B’s.
Minten has scored three goals in the last two games. He has seven points (four goals, three assists) in seven games played overall. It took him 25 games last season to reach seven points. So, he’s producing offense at more than twice the production he did last year when he had 35 points (17 goals, 18 assists) in 82 games.
Sure, it’s still very early in the season. The chances of Minten finishing the year as a point-per-game player are not super high. But it’s not like Minten is just getting lucky bounces or taking advantage of awful turnovers by the opposition.
He’s skating with much more confidence when on the attack this season. You could see it in the preseason, too, and it’s carried over into the regular season. Minten also is being more aggressive in looking for his own offense. He has 19 shots on net in seven games, compared to nine through seven games last year. The Bruins are outscoring opponents 8-3 at even strength during Minten’s 5-on-5 minutes this season.
Minten’s floor, based on his smart, responsible two-way skill set, is a very good third-line center. And that’s a valuable role. Charlie Coyle filled that spot for the Bruins for many years. But there’s no doubt that Minten’s ceiling is much higher. He definitely has the ability to be a very good No. 2 center (maybe No. 1) some time in the near future.
Performances like the one we saw against the Sharks prove he has that ability.
“He’s definitely on his way,” Bruins head coach Marco Sturm told reporters postgame. “The way he plays and thinks the game is very impressive at his age. We try to push him every day, not just being a (No. 2) or No. 1. Just try to be the best he can. Right now, he’s pretty fun to watch.”
In addition to his offensive production, Minten is also giving the Bruins strong defense, penalty killing and a little more toughness than expected. He was willing to mix it up with Sharks defenseman Jacob Trouba in the second period Tuesday. Minten was fighting for a loose puck in the crease, Trouba came over to shove him out, and Minten wasn’t having any of it. You can bet his teammates appreciated that.
Minten is also becoming a bigger part of the team’s leadership group, and that says a lot about his character for such a young player.
“He was already amazing last year. We saw glimpses of what he could be in the future. I think the biggest thing is, No. 1, him finding his voice, which is amazing,” Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy said postgame.
“We wanted to bring him into the leadership group and see him flourish because he has that personality, but I think the way he plays is just so mature. That’s a way in which he can lead. In the third period when it’s a little hectic early and we take a penalty, and we weren’t handling the puck the way that we needed to, he’s a guy you can grab and you know he’ll do the next right thing when he gets it and we can try to tip (the game) back in our favor.”
We can debate all day long whether Minten will be a No. 2 center, but the fact of the matter is for this Bruins team, right now, he is the No. 2 center. And it’s hard to imagine him playing below that spot in the lineup anytime soon.
Minten is the kind of all-situations player that coaches adore. His performance will go a long way in determining how far this team can go. It’s a big responsibility for a 22-year-old, but Minten has the maturity to handle it.
“We’re going to lean on him a lot,” McAvoy said. “He’s a great two-way player and he’s a big part of what we’re trying to build here.”
The Toronto Maple Leafs ended their three-game road trip with a 5-4 loss to the Utah Mammoth on Tuesday, and multiple players have taken the blame for certain moments in the game.
The Maple Leafs did come close to evening up the contest late with a six-on-four opportunity. However, along the way to nearly completing a comeback from being 4-1 down, there were plenty of areas that can be cleaned up, and the players realize that.
Defenseman Morgan Rielly was asked about Utah's first goal of the game. Left winger Daniil But made a move on Rielly, leaving him in the dust, before netting his fifth-career NHL goal.
"Yeah, he made a good play," Rielly admitted, who finished with a minus-two rating and 16:09 of average ice time. "Obviously, that's on me. But I thought we did a good job getting back in the game. But there's plenty of areas to clean up."
Rielly wasn't the only player to take responsibility for part of Toronto's defeat, bringing the team to a 3-3-1 record after seven games.
Goaltender Anthony Stolarz, making his third start of the season, allowed five goals on 28 shots on goal from the Mammoth. He finished the outing with an .827 save percentage and endured his first loss of the year. He now holds an .875 SP from his three appearances this season.
There were a few goals that slipped past him, and the 32-year-old confessed that he could've been sharper in those moments on Tuesday.
"I put us in a tough situation," Stolarz said post-game. "You know, probably want two or three of those goals back. And not the way you want to go and end the road trip."
Maple Leafs head coach Jim Hiller defended Stolarz and didn't let him take the entire blame for the bleeding, conceding four goals in the second period specifically.
"He was alright, " Hiller said of Stolarz's performance. "He gave us a chance at the end for a period of a couple of saves. You know, they scored five rush goals. So that's not just Anthony. That's different people making mistakes prior to getting to him. There's probably a couple he wants back, but that happens."
As mentioned, Toronto's first road trip is complete. Their next opponent will be the Buffalo Sabres at Scotiabank Arena on Thursday.
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Despite starting the season on what has now devolved into an eight-game losing streak (0-5-3), the Philadelphia Flyers are still generating plenty of trade interest around the NHL.
Which teams are inquiring, you may ask? Or would even want to inquire? That's less clear, though any team calling Flyers general manager Danny Briere's phone is looking to buy low on one of many struggling players.
In TSN's latest "Insider Trading" segment, NHL insider Pierre LeBrun reported that Briere is indeed getting tons of calls from around the league, and that's not necessarily a good thing amid the team's 0-5-3 start that has seen them allow the most shots per game, generate the fewest shots per game, and score the fewest goals per game.
"Danny Briere, the GM of the Flyers, my understanding is his phone is getting all kinds of love from other GMs around the league, but not the kind of attention you wanna get," said LeBrun.
"There is no easy fix here. There is no blockbuster trade that the Flyers are gonna pull off to get themselves out of this brutal start. I know some fans are chanting, 'Fire Rick Tocchet.' That’s not even a thought for Flyers management right now. The answer lies within.
"This is a collective letdown from the start of the year. There’s a belief inside that management group that this is a group of young players who, after getting a taste of success last year, maybe took a lot for granted here entering this year. It’s a wake-up call. They gotta fix it themselves."
The pressure on Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet continues to build as Philadelphia extends its worst season-opening slide in franchise history, but LeBrun insists, further to previous reporting from Anthony Di Marco, a coaching change is not something that's in Briere and Co.'s playbook at this moment in time.
As for a potential trade, the Flyers have been linked to Detroit's Simon Edvinsson and Dylan Larkin, though Larkin doesn't want to come to Philly, and Detroit is hellbent on keeping and re-signing Edvinsson, an RFA still without a contract well into the start of the season.
Maybe Flyers president Keith Jones did some scouting at Monday night's Devils-Senators game in Newark, but the Flyers would have to present a viable deal to make the playoff hopefuls even consider striking a trade.
With the amount of big contracts and trade protection the Flyers have given out recently, it is hard to even pinpoint the players they could sell off to inquiring teams, though it is safe to assume that players like Rasmus Ristolainen, Noah Cates, Owen Tippett, Cam York, and even Matvei Michkov would generate interest from prospective contenders.
With a terribly difficult slate of games coming up for the Flyers - one that includes games against Ottawa, Colorado, Buffalo, Anaheim, and Washington - this situation could be one to monitor closely, especially if the Flyers are unable to begin making up some serious ground in the standings.
It was La Soirée Québécoise at the Bell Centre on Tuesday night, as the Montreal Canadiens hosted the Buffalo Sabres, the first time the two teams met since Montreal eliminated them in the second round of the playoffs. For a third straight game, Jacob Fowler started for the Habs and, interestingly, the New York Rangers goaltending scout was in attendance.
He may not have known whether Fowler or Dobes would be in net that night, but his presence after Igor Shesterkin was ruled out for the rest of the season is still interesting. However, with their number one goaltender still having six years left on his contract, Samuel Montembeault would be the best fit for the Rangers, but he’s still injured.
The Canadiens' penalty kill was very impressive on four power-play opportunities; the Sabres couldn’t get a single shot on net. Granted, their man advantage is hardly menacing, with a 13.6% success rate before Tuesday night’s game, but the Canadiens still played well on the kill.
Jake Evans had an active stick to break up plays; Arber Xhekaj timed his dive perfectly at one point, taking away a passing opportunity in the second frame, while Noah Dobson’s long reach came in handy on the PK in the first frame. Asked how he felt about the PK’s work on the night and the fact that it didn’t allow a single shot, Evans said: "I didn’t even know that. Yeah, you know, we feel confident. Everyone’s been working their tail off and blocking shots if they need to. We get the saves when we need to. You know, when the PK’s going well, it’s not one guy; it’s not just the goalie. It’s everyone chipping in and helping out."
As for Josh Anderson, he added: "We’re starting to get a little bit comfortable and used to the new kill this year; we’re trying to dial it in each and every day, just watching clips of what we need to work on and obviously things went our way tonight with the kill."
The PK’s efficiency didn’t go unnoticed by Martin St-Louis; we played a good game. The two goals in the third hurt, but we’ll look at it and try to correct things. […] The PK was excellent; we went out and got a goal on the PP. We were organized, played a good second frame, and did a lot of things well, but nothing was perfect. Perfection is impossible, so it’s about correcting errors and trying to be perfect, knowing full well it’s impossible.
Hecatomb On The Blue Line
Days after GM Kent Hughes traded Jayden Struble, Mike Matheson was labelled day-to-day with an undisclosed injury, and sources say his absence could be lengthy. As if that wasn't worrying enough for the Habs, Dobson took a puck to the face in the second frame and headed straight down the tunnel once he regained his senses.
Thankfully, he returned at the start of the third, looking no worse for wear; in fact, he finished the evening with 5 hits, doubling his season total. Despite missing a good chunk of the middle stanza, he still spent nearly 19 minutes on the ice.
In the dying seconds of the game, Alexandre Carrier threw caution to the wind and threw himself off a Tage Thompson cannon shot to push the game to overtime. While the coach said every player knows how much that hurts, the blueliner didn’t agree: "It wasn’t that bad, honestly. The opportunity was there, so I just tried to block it."
Playing With Fire
The Canadiens seemed in full control, leading 3-1 at the start of the third frame and having given Buffalo only nine shots, but at 4:24 the Sabres got a goal back, tying the game just over a minute later. Those goals felt like déjà vu, with Fowler unable to see the puck through heavy traffic. Two of the visitors' goals came off deflections, which makes the netminder’s job really hard. The coach explained:
We got to block the shots from up high, and you need to box out and take the sticks away down low. It’s really simple.
Still, the Canadiens managed to get away with the two points thanks to another Zachary Bolduc shootout goal, but they nearly lost that extra point in overtime when Juraj Slafkovsky made a couple of mistakes.
After the game, the Habs headed to Washington, where they’ll take on the Capitals tomorrow at 7:30 PM. Both teams will be on the tail end of a back-to-back, and since the Caps were playing away, they both will have travelled post-game.
BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 10: Paul George #13 of the Boston Celtics looks on during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on October 10, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Boston Celtics dominated the Philadelphia 76ers in their first of two preseason matchups, a 38-point rout. This was our first look at most of the Celtics’ top players, with Jayson Tatum, Paul George, Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, Mitchell Robinson, Neemias Queta, and Sam Hauser all making their pre-season debuts and what a debut it was.
Joe Mazzulla isn’t one to tip his hand, but it’s no secret that gaining extra possessions is a core tenant in his basketball philosophy. That’s going to come through two main sources: crashing the offensive glass and an active defense. The extra possessions were found in abundance during Saturday’s victory.
Paul George was responsible for a good chunk of them, a promising display of what he can bring to this new iteration of the Celtics. He came away with a team-high five steals, tied with Baylor Scheierman. From the jump, it was easy to see how locked in PG was defensively, especially for a preseason game.
George’s defense looked completely effortless. He wasn’t flying up and down the court or hounding defenders all 94 feet. He kept things nice and simple, relying on good positioning, and years of experience as one of the league’s premier defenders.
Three of PG’s steals came from reading the passing lanes with active hands. He led the team with six deflections, and the ones which resulted in Boston gaining possession all sparked fastbreaks, two of which the Celtics were able to convert to easy buckets.
An underrated aspect of Paul’s defense is, ironically enough, his offense. Being able to convert defensive stops into transition buckets by reading the floor and pushing the ball up the court will be an invaluable addition to a team that ranked dead-last in both fastbreak points and pace last season. Boston was also towards the bottom of the league (26th) in turnovers forced per game at just 12.9, something they’ll be looking to remedy this year.
George wasn’t solely an off-ball specialist in Saturday’s game. He also had a Jrue Holiday-esque strip which led to a dunk of his own.
Even when he wasn’t the one to come away with a steal, he heavily influenced the Celtics’ defensive possessions to wreak havoc. He was extremely connected with his teammates, and incredibly active as well. Whether a play results in a stop or not, his defensive tenacity will wear down opposing players, especially with his versatility, being able to shut down stars and role-players alike. Tatum went as far as to call George Boston’s “defensive playmaker” alongside Scheierman.
Everyone please come watch Paul George on this sequence
His defense has been crazy in this game already. His activity, defensive playmaking (3 steals), and on ball has been crazy
Keep in mind, we’re still just talking about a preseason game. I wouldn’t expect Paul to average 5 steals a night over the course of the year, but if he maintains this level of activity, Boston’s defense will be hard to beat.
That night, Mazzulla said George takes things to another level defensively. “Great instincts. Great technique. Great positioning. It’s something he takes pride in and I think is very contagious,” he added.
And before Tuesday’s practice, Joe gave some encouraging words about Paul’s health. “He’s had a tremendous training camp from a physical standpoint… He’s in great shape. He feels great from that standpoint.”
PG certainly showed us that he’s moving well and ready to work. Now, we’re just under a week away from Boston’s regular season opener. It won’t be long until we can stop dreaming about what this team can accomplish and start seeing the results speak for themselves.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - OCTOBER 10: Jalen Johnson #1 of the Atlanta Hawks drives to the basket during the game against the Indiana Pacers on October 10, 2026 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by A.J. Mast/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Editor’s note: this is the first piece from new staff writer Joey Walraven. He’ll be contributing to our site’s coverage. Please give him a warm welcome as we’re excited for him to join our team at Peachtree Hoops.
Jalen Johnson was having his best year of his young career in 2024-25 before a torn labrum sidelined him remainder of the season. Many analysts viewed his absence as one of the most consequential in the entire league. Despite only playing 36 games and starting in all of them, Johnson was enjoying career highs in points, rebounds, and assists.
With the increase in both responsibility and production, the former first-round pick was slated for a big 2025-2026 campaign. In the midst of the Trae Young fiasco, which included unfortunate injuries and palpable tension between the Hawks and their star guard, Johnson became the focal point of the offense and saw himself molded into the best player on the Hawks’ roster.
Only missing ten games, averaged 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 7.9 assists per game, which were all career highs. Johnson also increased his three-point percentage, which increased the floor spacing for the Hawks and made them a more dynamic offense. With Young’s absence, who served as the team’s facilitator, Johnson molded himself into a true point forward, which led him to being tied for the second most triple-doubles in the league.
Johnson’s quantum leap was accompanied by a litany of accolades, which included being voted to both the All-Star team and Third Team All-NBA. Both honors were also career firsts.
Despite the improvement, the postseason was not quite as kind to Johnson. In the lone series against the eventual NBA Champion New York Knicks, the first time all-star struggled to establish the same dominance, as all the numbers he set career highs in took a substantial drop, especially his three-point efficiency, as he shot 29% for the series.
Johnson acknowledged his trouble during the team’s media day and vowed to improve his performance, stating, “the first month and a half, two months after the season, [all I watched] was film from that Knicks series. Just [seeing] how I can learn and grow from that. Because at the end of the day, I want to win championships.”
Part of Johnson’s playoff struggles derived from what seemed to be a form of a basketball identity crisis. Though he was the team’s best player and leading scorer, it seemed his deference to his teammates, namely CJ McCollum and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, ultimately interfered with his ability to find his rhythm in the game and execute the same effectiveness he did throughout the entire season.
There were several points late in the season where the Hawks were forced to depend on McCollum and ‘NAW’ and were unable to get production from their lone All-Star. Johnson’s peak as a scorer will come when he is depended less upon as a facilitator and is able to focus the bulk of his energy on putting the ball through the net.
Former Houston Cougar Kingston Flemings with the eighth pick in this year’s draft will be an ideal candidate to lower some of the ball handling and facilitating responsibilities from Johnson. The transition to being a scoring dominant weapon will continue to improve the Hawks’ offensive versatility, and ultimately being a more dynamic unit once the playoffs arrive.
While Johnson is certainly a more than capable defender, it’s certainly an area where he can have some improvement. The addition of Luguentz Dort to the Hawks certainly removes the burden from Johnson to be a defensive staple, especially when pairing with defensive stalwarts Dyson Daniels and Alexander-Walker. Johnson admitted the three will be a problem for the league, stating the league could “pick their poison” for which member of their three-headed monster will cause nightmares for opposing teams.
Ultimately, for Jalen Johnson to maximize his potential, he has to play like he knows he is the team’s number one option. While scoring support from his teammates is obviously a requirement, he has to be the guy the Hawks funneling their winning plays through.
With the additions of support in terms of playmaking, perimeter play, and defense, the Hawks have the ingredients to unleash a deadly recipe on the NBA as Johnson continues to mold himself into one of the league’s best young stars. With his proven ability to improve in each year, if Johnson accepts the challenge to being his team’s undisputed alpha dog, not only will the Hawks make noise in the playoffs, but Jalen Johnson will find himself in the midst of MVP talks.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 13: Keldon Johnson #3 and Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs high five during the game against the New York Knicks during Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 13, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
A cool collection of photos and stats surrounding Keldon Johnson, the 2026 NBA Sixth Man of the Year. The photos, most from his ranch, were the subject of many articles written after KJ invited some members of the media out to his ranch for an afternoon.
“Keldon Johnson, at home.
Keldon Johnson has been the Spurs’ unofficial DJ since his rookie season, when Patty Mills handed him the aux and told him to play Mariah Carey. He still runs the music before games off a giant speaker with a worn-out Spurs logo, and the playlist makes room for “Party in the U.S.A.” and “A Thousand Miles.”
In 2025–26, he broke Manu Ginóbili’s franchise record for points off the bench. The two are also the only Spurs to win Sixth Man of the Year.
The boots came with the land. “Ever since I got a ranch, it’s the everyday attire,” he told NBC. The pond on the property was recently expanded to fit a small boat and stocked with koi, bass, crappie and catfish.
Originally, I thought it was a magazine layout and when I looked up “Hoopsciety” I found their YouTube channel which featured this video on Gregg Popovich and Victor Wembanyama:
It is incredible to relive Wemby’s timeline in San Antonio since draft night. His time with Pop. His first two season ending with injury. His defensive stats. And then the exposiveness of his third season. The dominance and maturity leading to his unanimous Defensive Player of the Year, Western Conference Finals MVP, and his first Finals appearance.
The Spurs have such high expectations for themselves this season, it will most surely be a year to follow the Silve & Black.
Tewo more preseason games and less than a week until the season opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Go Spurs Go!
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DALLAS, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 25: Jett Howard #9 of the Dallas Mavericks poses for portraits at Mavericks Media Day at American Airlines Center on September 25, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the GettyImages License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Jett Howard probably wasn’t a name you had penciled in as a Maverick before the offseason began, but here we are. The Mavericks signed the former 11th overall pick in the 2023 draft to a two-way contract this summer after three seasons in Orlando. The 6-foot-8 wing never quite found his footing with the Magic, but his role grew last season, when he averaged a career-high 5.5 points in 12.6 minutes per game while shooting 37.2% from three and 94.9% from the free-throw line. Those aren’t numbers that pop off the page, especially for a lottery pick. But Orlando drafted him 11th for a reason, and Dallas brought him in for a pretty obvious one: The guy can shoot. On a Mavericks roster that needs players who can space the floor around Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving, that skill alone gives Howard a path to minutes. The question is whether he can do other things well enough to stay on the floor.
Big question
Can Jett Howard become more than a shooter? It’s that simple. The Mavericks don’t need him to come in and average 15 points a night. Dallas has plenty of players who will have the ball more than him. What they need is someone who can punish defenses when they decide to load up on Flagg, Irving, or another primary creator. Howard shot 37.2% from three last season on 2.6 attempts per game. Those numbers aren’t spectacular, but they’re respectable enough to force defenses to think about him.
Dallas doesn’t need him to be a star, but be a guy Dusty May can rely on to get a bucket when you need one. It also wouldn’t hurt to do other little things. Run around screens. Make the extra pass. Attack a hard closeout. Move without the ball. Compete defensively. If Howard can do those things consistently, a two-way contract will start looking like a pretty useful piece. If he can’t, he won’t log many minutes.
Best case scenario
Howard shoots the lights out and makes his way into the rotation. The Mavericks have several young, athletic players, but they also desperately need shooting. Dallas’ 2026-27 roster is packed with players 25 or younger, and Howard fits the team’s broader youth movement almost perfectly.
The best version of Howard isn’t a high-volume scorer. It’s a 6-foot-8 wing who can come into a game, immediately provide spacing, and knock down three or four shots without needing the offense designed around him. And there is something intriguing about putting a player like that next to Cooper Flagg. If Flagg develops into the offensive engine Dallas expects, defenses will collapse on him on plenty of possessions.
Howard’s job would be simple: find an open spot and make them pay. If he can also become a competent defender, things get really interesting. That’s the path to Howard playing 10 to 15 minutes a night instead of spending most of the season in the G-League. And considering he was the 11th pick just three years ago, I’m not ready to completely give up on the idea that there’s more here than what Orlando showed.
Worst case scenario
Howard becomes a shooting specialist who doesn’t shoot enough. A 37.2% three-point shooter sounds good until you remember that Howard only attempted 2.6 threes per game last season. His career three-point percentage is just 32.6%, so it’s fair to wonder whether last year’s improvement was a real step forward or simply a small sample.
And if the shot isn’t falling, what else is he giving you? He’s not a creator. He’s also not going to overwhelm opponents physically, even for his size. That leaves very little margin for error. The Mavericks already have plenty of players fighting for wing minutes. Max Christie, Zaccharie Risacher, Naji Marshall, Santi Aldama, Morez Johnson Jr., and others are ahead of Howard on the depth chart in some capacity. If Howard wants real minutes, he’ll have to separate himself from the rest of the pack with his shooting stroke. If he doesn’t, onto the G League he goes.
Season goal
Become too good for the two-way contract. Be the shooter you were last season, but with more volume when you’re in. I don’t expect him to become a regular part of the rotation immediately. But 10-15 games where Howard consistently looks like a rotation NBA player could make him a useful weapon. A simple stretch where he’s knocking down open threes, making smart cuts, and holding his own defensively should keep him on the floor. If he can do that, the Mavericks will have to figure out a way to keep him around. And honestly, that’s a pretty good season for a 23-year-old who is trying to revive his NBA career.
Overall
I like this gamble. Howard is exactly the type of player Dallas should be taking a chance on right now. He was once a lottery pick; he’s still only 23, and he has one skill that will always have value in the NBA: shooting. The Mavericks officially signed him to a two-way contract in July after his best statistical season in Orlando. Now he gets a fresh start. A little new scenery can go a long way.
He appeared in 133 games over three seasons, but only averaged 11 minutes per game for his career and never started a game. Dallas probably won’t hand him a ton of minutes either. But the opportunity is different. The Mavericks are trying to build around Cooper Flagg, and that means finding players who complement him.
Shooting matters. Size matters. And if Howard can put those things together, there’s a role for him. No one expects Howard to suddenly become the second coming of Klay Thompson, but there’s a reasonable chance Dallas gets more out of him than Orlando did. And if he can turn 37% three-point shooting into something closer to 40% while becoming a reliable team defender, the Mavericks may have found a very useful rotation piece hiding on a two-way contract. That’s worth taking a swing on.
Black Cats can reboot season against Torreense in Europa League in break from tough start to the Premier League
There is a pleasing symmetry about Sunderland’s Europa League trip to Portugal to face Torreense on Thursday night. The club’s last competitive venture on European soil, 53 years ago, was the second leg of a European Cup Winners’ Cup second-round tie against Sporting in Lisbon for the FA Cup holders, then in the Second Division.
In a striking parallel, second-tier Torreense prompted widespread surprise by beating Sporting in the Portuguese Cup final last season. The reward was a place in the Europa League’s initial phase and their chances of reaching next spring’s sudden-death rounds were boosted when they beat Lillestrom 2-1 in Norway last month.
Oct 13, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Bryan Baker (47) celebrates a win against the Cleveland Guardians in game two of the ALCS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Good morning Birdland,
Well, we know that at least one of the LCS won’t be a sweep. The Rays evened up the junior circuit matchup at one game apiece with a 3-1 win over the Guardians on Tuesday night. All three of their runs came in a big fourth inning. That proved to be enough for starter Freddy Peralta, who tossed six scoreless innings, followed by the Tampa bullpen, which was punctuated by another Bryan Baker save. Those two teams will have today off as they travel to Cleveland, where the series will continue on Thursday.
That means the NLCS is a solo act this evening. The Brewers have a commanding 2-0 lead, but will now head on the road for the first time in the best-of-seven set. Another win tonight doesn’t guarantee their first World Series appearance since 1982, but it would put them awfully close. First pitch is set for 8 p.m. on FS1.
Shohei Ohtani’s struggles have become a big storyline of that series. The four-time MVP is 3-for-20 this postseason with zero extra-base hits, three walks, and seven strikeouts. That’s a .411 OPS. He hit the IL near the end of the regular season, then struggled in eight September games, and still doesn’t look right. Dave Roberts moved him down the order in Game 2, and there were some rumblings that he could be removed from the order entirely for Game 3. But the Dodgers announced during the off day that this wouldn’t happen. Ohtani will be starting. If the Dodgers hope to complete a three-peat, they will need some magic from their superstar.
On the Orioles front, it’s quiet, as it is for just about all 26 teams that are no longer playing baseball this year. While front offices are surely making preparations for the offseason ahead, there simply isn’t much public-facing work to be done.
Free agency starts five days after the World Series ends. The GM Meetings start November 9. The owners meetings begin November 17. And the non-tender deadline is November 20. Anything beyond that is in doubt as the current CBA expires on December 1, which could mean that many of the most interesting days of baseball’s offseason are pushed or cancelled altogether.
While some minor moves are likely to happen prior to a new CBA, you would assume that any massive contracts will have to wait until teams, players, and agents fully understand the new deal. Salary caps and salary floors have been discussed. There could be changes to draft pick compensation for teams that lose higher-cost free agents. It’s a lot to unpack, and seems destined to drag well into next year at this point.
Links
Looking at Orioles through eyes of some opposing scouts | Roch Kubatko Roch discusses a current Orioles players that could be available in a trade this offseason. Apparently, Ryan Mountcastle is one to consider. He played in eight games this year due to a foot injury, and has a $7.5 million club option for 2027. It would seem like with the log jam at first base he would be an easy decline, making him a free agent. But if the Orioles front office thinks they could get anything for him in a trade, maybe it makes more sense to hold onto to him and deal him sometime in the spring.
Three prospects who could be key contributors for O’s in ’27 | Orioles.com Luis De León, Michael Forret, and Enrique Bradfield Jr. are mentioned, and all make sense. The Orioles, like every team, are going to need pitching, and Bradfield’s speed and defense seem major league ready, even if the bat still needs some work.
Oriole priorities in a likely shorter offseason | Rich Dubroff The Orioles enter this offseason with a desperate need to get better in a few places, which will be more difficult because of the impending lockout. But they aren’t going to overhaul the roster. The core of the team is already in place. They need to get more out of the guys they have in-house, and then supplement them with a few key external signings. There’s a lot to do, but it feels less about making moves and more about setting the players they already have up for success. Hopefully, a lockout doesn’t impact that too much.
Orioles birthdays
Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!
Midre Cummings turns 55 today. He played in two games for the Orioles in 2005, which capped off his 11 season in MLB.
Carl Nichols is 64 years old. From 1986-88, he appeared in 36 games for the Orioles, mostly as a backup catching option.
Kiko Garcia turns 73. He was a useful utility infielder for the Orioles for five seasons from 1976-80, and was then traded to the Astros prior to the ‘81 campaign.
Tommy Harper is 85 today. His final major league season was spent with the Orioles in 1976, when he was almost exclusively deployed as a DH and pinch hitter.
This day in O’s history
1969 – The Orioles drop Game 3 of the World Series to the underdog New York Mets 5-0. The Mets now hold a 2-1 advantage in the best-of-seven series.
1971 – The Orioles get shutout 4-0 in Game 5 of the World Series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. That gives the Buccos a 3-2 lead in the set.
2014 – The Royals win yet again in the ALCS, extending their lead in the series to 3-0. Their bullpen pitches four perfect innings close things out the win over the Orioles in Game 3.
