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When talking about the 2026 NBA draft, everyone knows about the top 4.

But there is a player who will almost certainly be available when the Mavericks pick at 9 who matches all of the top 4 statistically, so why isn’t he viewed with the likes of AJ Dybansta and Cam Boozer?

Well, he’ll be 24 when the season starts.

The basics

Yaxel Lendeborg was born Sep. 20 2002 in Puerto Rico, before moving to Ohio when he was 2 years old. He attended Pennsauken High School in New Jersey, but only played in 11 varsity games in his high school career.

This unusual circumstance was caused by his bad grades, which kept him from playing on the varsity squad. This began his roundabout basketball career, as Lendeborg would commit to Arizona Western, a junior college school, where he would play for 3 seasons.

He would be recognized as the NJCAA and ACCAC player of the year in his 3rd season, averaging 17.2 points and 13 rebounds per game. After this season he would transfer to the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

He would again dominate this level, where he would win back-to-back American Athletic Conference (AAC) defensive player of the years, where he averaged 17.7 points 11.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.8 blocks and 1.7 steals per game in his final season.

Following this season Lendeborg would enter the transfer portal, while also attending the NBA draft combine. After the combine, Lendeborg would choose to return to school, where he would transfer to the Michigan Wolverines.

This decision proved to be the right one, as Lendeborg and the Wolverines would cap off a dominant season with a National Championship.

Lendeborg would have a tremendous season, being named the Big 10 National player of the year, as well as a consensus first team All-American.

Lendeborg averaged 15.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 2.3 stocks per game.

The good

• Lendeborg’s biggest strength is his combination of size and athleticism. He measured in at 6’8.75 barefoot, and weighed in at 241 pounds, with a 7’3 wingspan. These measurables are absolutely outstanding, as Lendeborg should be able to play the 3-5, giving him supreme positional versatility. He also has a fluidity that is rare for his size. This shows itself both as a driver, and as a defender, as he’s able to guard both speedy wings, and powerful big-men. This frame is also NBA ready, as he should have the strength to battle with almost any player in the league.
• Lendeborg also possesses elite efficiency across almost all play-types. He shot 72% at the rim, and 37% from three, both being great numbers for his playstyle. He was also efficient in every context: attacking the rim, posting up smaller defenders, or popping off of a screen for a three. He’s able to effortlessly switch between off and on-ball play-types, capable of creating his own shot, or playing off of others. His shot diet is also nearly perfect, as almost all of his shots come at the rim or three point line. While he may not posses the self-creation ability of the truly elite prospects, his versatility allows him to be impactful whether he has the ball or not.

• Perhaps the most NBA ready part of Lendeborg’s skillset will be his defense, as he projects to become an elite backline menace. Lendeborg doesn’t necessarily have one skill that sets him apart defensively; rather, it is his ability to slot in wherever a team is lacking. He can perform as a great secondary rim-protector next to a center, a wing stopper, or even a small-ball five. His long arms and thick frame lead to a high number of steals and blocks. Lendeborg also could become a volume rebounder, as he has shown the ability to grab double digit boards during his college career. While those numbers dipped last season, it can be chalked up to playing alongside Morez Johnson Jr. and Aday Mara. Overall, Lendeborg will immediately become one of the more versatile defenders in the NBA, and has the potential to truly wreck games.

• An underrated part of Lendeborg’s game is his playmaking, which could have the potential to be truly great. While his raw assist numbers may be lackluster, the advanced metrics paint a different story. Lendeborg posted an 18% AST%, 3.1 AST/TO, and 2.9 rim AST a game, all numbers in the 85th percentile or better. While these numbers could suggest hidden upside as an on-ball creator, he will more than likely be limited due to his scoring ability. At the very least, he should be an effective connective passer who always makes the right play.

• Finally, Lendeborg’s advanced impact metrics cannot be ignored, as he has some of the best in this class. Lendeborg posted the second best BPM in the class, only behind Cameron Boozer. This impact felt on both sides of the ball, as he was second best in both metrics. This level of impact usually translates to the NBA, even if it’s inflated due to his age.

The bad

• Simply put, Yaxel Lendeborg’s age is the only reason he isn’t discussed as a top 5 prospect in this class. Lendeborg will be 24 years old when the 2026-2027 NBA season begins, a truly outrageous age for a rookie. To put this in perspective, he is older than Paolo Banchero, who will be entering his 5th NBA season. His age is a nuanced topic, as many have claimed that the only reason he has the impact that he showcased in college was due to his age. While this is a bit extreme, the cause for concern is not fully without merit. While Lendeborg’s raw BPM was 15.1 (second best in the class), his BPM+ (which accounts for factors such as age) was only 5.1, which is 15th in the class. His age also means that his potential is capped at being a role player, as teams can expect very few physical changes for Lendeborg at this point in his career.

• When it comes to his game the biggest concern is the three-point shot. While Lendeborg shot 37% from three last season at Michigan, it was the first season in his long college career where the 3-ball was a legitimate weapon. His form is solid, but I do have concerns about whether he will have real three-point gravity at the next level.

Fit with the Mavericks

While many Mavericks fans would hate this draft selection, his fit would be incredibly seamless. Lendeborg could immediately start at the 4 next to Cooper Flagg, helping him on both sides of the ball.

The issue is that the Mavericks already have a player that is very similar to Lendeborg, while only being 3 years older.

That being P.J. Washington Jr.

The other problem is Flagg’s timeline. Lendeborg is ready to help a contending team win now, and while the Mavericks should be feisty next year, winning is not a priority. Furthermore, Lendeborg will be 30 years old before Flagg turns 25, and will be on the decline before Flagg hits his prime years.

Player comparison

The most obvious comp for Lendeborg is Aaron Gordon with slightly less athleticism. This comp is mainly rooted in their shared physical traits and defensive versatility. While Gordon is not a star, he routinely has been one of the most impactful players in the entire league, and is vital to the Nuggets system. Lendeborg’s low end comp is the aforementioned P.J. Washington Jr.

It’s been a million years since the New York Knicks last graced a basketball court. But the playoffs haven’t stopped and our beloved Knickerbockers are back it, starting on Tuesday, and hooping in the Eastern Conference Finals for the second year and row.

After beating a pesky Atlanta Hawks squad and vaporizing the Philadelphia 76ers, the Knicks are facing a much tougher matchup on paper against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Can they keep it rolling? Can they extend their ongoing seven-game winning streak? Will the vibes stay the same as they’ve been for the past few weeks and into the depths of June!?

As usual, the Posting & Toasting crew has squeezed back around the round(ball) table to cut through the noise and tackle the juiciest questions surrounding New York’s EFC showdown with their Cleveland foes. Our panel of basketball geniuses tackled the following questions:

How many games will the Knicks-Cavaliers ECF last, and who makes the Finals?

Antonio: I failed miserably predicting Embiid/Maxey to have an unwinnable game each against the Knicks. I’ll put my reputation on the line once again cause I don’t think it’s that risky. I refuse to believe Donovan Mitchell won’t at least have one of those ridiculous 50-burger outings he puts together here and there, and the Cavs have a bunch of very solid starters, so as not to combine for another victory. Give me Knicks in six and I’d be pleased.

Miranda: Knicks in five. The Cavs won two Game 7s to get this far, and that has to mean something. But those wins were over two teams still learning to rub two sticks together on offense, so how much those Cavs wins matter is pro’ly more eye-of-the-beholder than usual.

Zeno: I gave the Sixers way too much credit last round, and that’s my bad, but I would truly be shocked if the Cavs looked as bad as they did, even with the grueling postseason they’ve endured so far. There are a lot of key matchups in this one, but I lean the Knicks to win a war of attrition and wear down a fatigued Cavs squad in six games to advance to the NBA Finals for the first time in 27 years.

Kento: The Cavaliers will be the best team the Knicks have played. They, even more so than the two previous teams the Knicks played, pose some unique challenges, but they aren’t hurt, and they aren’t inexperienced. The Cavaliers have a lot of talent, and are more versatile in the ways they can play than the Hawks, and 76ers too. I also think the Knicks’ offense, partly because of how the Cavaliers will defend them, will come back down to earth. But I still think they have the depth, talent, home-court advantage, and rest to take them over the top. Knicks in six.

Beyond Jalen Brunson, who is the most important Knick in the ECF?

Antonio: Everybody’s talking about OG—both health- and talent-wise—but I just can’t go with anyone else than Mitchell Robinson. Yes, bench guy. Yes, awful at the line. Yes, a limited-minutes, strategical advantange for the Cavs. But when Mitch is on, he’s a menace, and the Knicks will need all of it to deal with the Mobley-Allen pairing in the paint. Robinson already dominated Cleveland’s bigs in 2023. Let’s have a re-do.

Miranda: OG Anunoby. Specifically, his hamstring. Both these teams feature multiple quality big men. Both feature elite combo guards. Both are led by coaches whose CV would be gussied up quite a bit with the addition of an NBA title. And while I agree with Joe Vardon that Max Strus looks a little beefier than in the past, maybe the biggest difference between the teams is one has an 80-inch, 240 pound two-way monster who was the Eastern playoffs MVP before hurting his hamstring, and the other has Strus. If OG is anything close to what he was the first two rounds, Cleveland has no chance.

Zeno: The longest tenured Knick, Mitchell Robinson. In 2023, he and Isaiah Hartenstein brutalized Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen to a pulp on the boards. iHart is gone, and Karl-Anthony Towns does more than enough on the boards to replace him, but I truly believe this series needs to have a gigantic performance from Big Mitch on the boards. In two games against Cleveland this year, he grabbed 29 rebounds (16 offensive) in 36 total minutes. More of that, please.

Kento: Josh Hart. The Cavaliers have the defensive personnel to guard Hart with a center-something that has long stifled the team’s offense. The Knicks have found some workarounds, but still lack a consistent enough counter to when opponents do that. If Hart is a willing, and effective enough shooter, it won’t matter. But if he becomes hesitant, or goes completely cold, this series could get uncomfortable. I also think his offensive rebounding, and defense on Harden and or Mitchell will be imperative to winning this series as well.

What must New York do to win this series and represent the East in the Finals?

Antonio: Drag the series into a seven-game affair so the Cavs wave the white flag. No, seriously, they simply have to do what they earned in the regular season and Cleveland helped them get for the third consecutive round: play to their home-court advantage, start the ECF going up 2-0, and go from there. There’s no way the Cavs pull off the miracle if they go two games behind to start the conference finals, coming off playing 14 games in a month, let alone with New York having nine days off. If we’re going Xs & Os, be mad quick and jump all possible passing lanes. Yes, you’ll get caught here and there, but the Cavs turn the ball over like madmen, so more often than not, those mistakes and an active D should do wonders for the Knicks.

Miranda: The Cavaliers barely beat a Raptors team with RJ Barrett as a leading scorer and a Pistons team whose best scorer after Cade Cunningham was Tobias Harris, who shot 39% in the series. So they’re obviously leveling up taking on the scoring Xanadu that is these Knicks. But the surest way for the Knicks to win the series is to pick their poison on defense and stick with it: either play Donovan Mitchell pretty straight-up and ensure none of his teammates get going, or refuse to let Mitchell beat them and leave it to the rest of the Cavs to make shots. The Cavs are by far the best scoring side the Knicks have seen this postseason, but I don’t think they have enough players capable of going off. After Mitchell, I don’t think they have any.

Zeno: Make Cleveland’s offense uncomfortable. They lead all the teams in turnovers and points allowed off turnovers as Donovan Mitchell and James Harden are trading bad performances. It’s hard to shut the water off on both of them, but even making one extremely frustrated can disrupt their offensive flow and allow you to score in transition.

Kento: Win the possession battle. Throughout the ups and downs, and the craziness of the Cavaliers’ postseason run, a few things remain a constant. They’ve actually been a good offensive rebounding team, but still struggle with keeping opponents off the offensive glass, and they have not only been turnover prone, but have been abysmal in transition defense. Thankfully, the Knicks have been great at rebounding the ball on both ends of the floor, and while they don’t force a ton of turnovers, they’ve been among the best in the league at converting their limited opportunities into points. If the Knicks can win the possession battle against an already fatigued team, it could be the ultimate difference-maker.

What concerns you most about the Knicks entering the ECF?

Antonio: Rust. If you frequent the comment section of P&T, you’ve read me mentioning it since the day the Knicks clinched their spot in the ECF, let alone each passing day the Cavs-Pistons series extended for yet another game. Having a few days off might help, but being out for damn nine days is unheard of, so we don’t even know how that might or might not work out in favor of or against New York. That said, once both teams settle into the series, and the longer they last, it’s fair to assume the Knicks should have a sizable fresh-legs advantage.

Miranda: Madison Square Garden is as big a homecourt advantage for a Game 7 as there is in the Association, but earlier in playoff series it can feel more the opposite. I think that’s more about how fandom has evolved over time than anything specific to MSG, but I suspect that as players have become more like comrades than enemies (which I don’t mind) and every team is now a billionaire vanity project, the little things that used to differentiate between the haves and have-nots don’t really apply anymore, including homecourt advantage.

When the Bad Boys won back-to-back titles in the late 1980s, owner Bill Davidson made them the first team to have their own private charter, Roundball One. If the Pistons were flying private during a playoff series and whoever they were beating up on was still flying commercial, that was a big advantage. A year ago Forbes estimated Cavs’ owner Dan Gilbert’s “worth” as $22.5 billion. That’s par for the course nowadays. My biggest worry, at least earlier in the series, is whether playing at home with all the pressure to win that there is on this group, for the first time ever, could build to an uncomfortable point.

Zeno: The long time off might be an obvious answer, but I’ll go with Cleveland’s 3-point shooting. The biggest advantage you had in a potential series against Detroit was their lack of it, but the Knicks will have to not only guard Mitchell and Harden closely, but stay home on guys like Max Strus, Dean Wade, and Sam Merrill on the perimeter. This team is very capable of pouring it on offensively.

Kento: As mentioned above, the Cavaliers defense, and more specifically, how they defend Hart. Dean Wade has boasted great individual defensive numbers against Brunson this year, but seeing as he averaged damn near 30PPG against VJ Edgecombe, who had similar success, I’m not as worried there. But the Knicks’ worst offensive droughts often come when teams put their centers on Hart. When, not if, the Cavaliers deploy that strategy, how will Hart, the rest of the Knicks, and Brown respond? And just as importantly, if the offenses starts to struggle, can Brown pull the plug, and not only make the necessary adjustments, but do so quick enough to avoid becoming the next Thibodeau?

Heading into the ECF, what gives you the most confidence about New York amid its postseason run?

Antonio: It took them more than 90 games and a few locker room discussions amid the Hawks series, no less (welp) to get their excrement together, but the Knicks have finally blossomed into the uber-killing machine we envisioned in August and watched win the winter tourney. Seriously, there is just no realistic scenario in which the Cavs catch such a massive break as the Pacers did last year—injuries, bounces, whatnot—to kick the Knicks out of contention. I just refuse to believe it.

Miranda: They’ve never lost a playoff series against Cleveland. Plus, after their last four ECFs dating back to 1994 came against Indiana, the Knicks’ mirror nemesis, it will be refreshing not to face the dark chaos magic that is every f***ing Pacers team ever.

Zeno: Two things, actually. The rest advantage and the way they’ve been playing. The Cavs have played 14 games in 30 days leading into this series and could play as many as 21 in 44 days. In the regular season, players will load manage, and the games are less intense, but it’s a whole different beast in the playoffs. They were exhausted against the Pacers last year, and the Knicks can do the same thing to them. Secondly, we just watched the most dominant seven-game stretch in Knicks history. I’m not going to doubt them until I see them deviate from this winning formula on both ends of the floor.

Kento: I’ll cheat and go with two. One is Brunson. I tend to believe that in the postseason, when the talent level is close enough, the team with the best player usually wins. That should give the Knicks the advantage. But I’ll echo what everyone else is saying and also go with the trajectory of both teams. I get that every series is a new series but the Cavaliers have played four more games, needed seven games to beat a solid, but mediocre Raptors team, and a Pistons team who’s second best offensive player was…. Tobias Harris? Meanwhile, the Knicks are rested, are more prepared, and have been playing the best basketball of the season, and overall look as focused as they ever have.

It’s almost impossible to predict which players will one day turn into a possible NBA MVP. As the league takes steps to address its purported tanking crisis, the last No. 1 overall pick to win the MVP is still Derrick Rose, who taken in 2008. After Rose, you have to go back to LeBron James (2003) and Tim Duncan (1997) for the last No. 1 overall picks to win MVP. Victor Wembanyama will almost certainly break this drought in the next year or two, but the looming ascent of Wemby opens up another question: When is the next time an American-born player will win MVP?

The last American-born MVP was James Harden in 2018. Since then, Giannis Antetokounmpo won twice, Nikola Jokic won three times, Joel Embiid won once, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has won twice. Embiid was the only one of those players who was drafted in the top-10. It feels like Wembanyama could win the next seven MVP awards even if it’s unlikely because of the 65-game rule of award eligibility. It could be a long, long time before the next American MVP.

When thinking about the next American MVP, a long-term horizon needs to be considered. Given the gap between SGA, Wembanyama, Luka Doncic, and everyone else, it’s totally possible that the next NBA MVP born in America isn’t even in the league yet. Let’s go through some options.

Missed their window already, and never really got close

Donovan Mitchell: Mitchell is in the discussion for the best American-born player in the NBA right now. He’s also never finished top-5 in MVP voting, and he turns 30 in September. It’s not happening.

Jalen Brunson: It’s more likely that Brunson wins NBA Finals MVP than NBA MVP, even if that’s also a long-shot. Brunson is obviously terrific as a scorer and shot-creator, but he only has one fifth-place MVP finish to his name, and he’s not getting any better on the brink of his 30th birthday.

Jaylen Brown: He deserves a mention after the year he just turned in, but he’s not even the best player on his own team, let alone the best in the league.

Young veterans with a chance

Anthony Edwards: Edwards is one of the front-runners for this honor. He’s already a top-10 player in the league at 24 years old, and he’s also likely going to have a big marketing push behind him as the face of American basketball if he can continue to ascend as a player. Is there a world where the Timberwolves trade Rudy Gobert, Edwards suddenly has more space to drive and create, and he takes a big leap? What if he eventually changes teams? The fact that Edwards has improved so much since being drafted as a hyper-athletic ball of clay — just look at his three-point shooting from college to now — gives him a real shot to keep getting better and eventually win an MVP one day.

Jayson Tatum: Tatum is 28 years old and already has two fourth place MVP finishes on his resume. He looked fantastic returning from a torn Achilles this season, so it’s totally possible he can regain his level of play prior to the injury. Tatum was probably a long-shot MVP candidate even before the injury, since younger players have already passed him. It will be even harder with a reconstructed Achilles. Given that the Celtics consistently churn out great teams and Tatum remains their franchise player, there’s still a chance it happens one day if the other contenders miss the games played cut-off.

Cade Cunningham: Cunningham led his team to 60 wins in his age-24 season to fulfill the promise he showed as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. He’s already a borderline top-10 player, and there’s so much low-hanging fruit to clean up in his game. Cunningham can go up another level if he cuts down the turnovers and improves his scoring efficiency, and it’s possible that playing in better spacing one day will get him there. It feels like Detroit might be better served to put another ball handler next to Cade and let him work as more of a wing than a point guard, but who knows if they will actually go in that direction. He’s one of the top candidates on this list …. but he’s nowhere near Wemby, while being 2.5 years older.

Evan Mobley: I would have ranked Mobley higher on my list of the next American MVP candidates a couple years ago, but he really hasn’t gotten much better lately. Does he have another big leap in him? He’s obviously a special defensive player and a good offensive player, but he’s a world away from MVP level.

LaMelo Ball: My toxic trait is that I never stop believing in LaMelo Ball. I had Ball ranked No. 1 in the 2020 NBA Draft, and he finally put it all together this season to both have a big impact on winning and grade out as a top-20 player in some metrics. The Hornets had the best net-rating in the NBA after Jan. 1. If Charlotte keeps that up and finishes at the top of the East next year (a big if, I know), Ball could sneak into MVP conversations.

Chet Holmgren: Holmgren is the closest thing we have to an American Wemby. He already feels like a top-10 player in the world to me, and just celebrated his 24th birthday. I really do think Holmgren can get up another level offensively, but not that’s not the role he’s been asked to play yet on the Thunder, and it’s hard to see a scenario where he’s the best player on his own team if he stays in OKC.

Tyrese Haliburton: Haliburton looked like an MVP-caliber player last time we saw him healthy in the 2025 NBA Finals. Can he get back to that level after a torn Achilles? It will be difficult, but not impossible. The Pacers point guard could be a Steve Nash-like candidate where he gets most of the credit of his team’s success if Indiana emerges as a contender again next season.

The 2006-2007 Generation

Cooper Flagg: Flagg was the youngest player in the NBA as a rookie, and he put together a terrific season despite being asked to play de facto point guard for the first time in his life. If an NBA player’s prime is ages 24-28, Flagg won’t hit that rank until the 2030-31 season. There have been eight players in league history to win MVP before they turned 24, and Flagg will be on an all-time trajectory if he can do that. I would like to see the Mavs star get back to his roots and reassert himself as a dominant defensive player after being …. fine on that end of the floor as a rookie while shouldering a huge offensive creation burden. Flagg has the talent to win MVP. No one else born in this country has his defensive ceiling while also being carrying this big of a usage load. It just feels like it will be hard for the Mavs to build a good enough team around him in the West in the near future.

Cameron Boozer: Boozer is the best player in the 2026 NBA Draft for my money. I’ve been touting him a future NBA superstar since he was in high school, and all he did at Duke was win national player of the year with a near-unanimous vote despite being basically the youngest player in the country. Concerns about his athleticism are overblown, but to get to MVP level Boozer would probably have to turn into an excellent pull-up three-point shooter or flirt with averaging a triple-double.

Darryn Peterson: It was only 18 months ago when Peterson was dropping 58 points on A.J Dybantsa in a 40 minute high school game. He never looked healthy at Kansas, but still showed that he can be a deadly three-point shooter. If his bizarre injury issues are over now and he’s really this good of a shooter, there’s a pathway for DP to be one of the most complete scoring guard prospects to hit the draft in recent memory.

A.J. Dybantsa: Dybantsa is an extremely gifted shot-creator for such a gigantic wing. I don’t think he’s really a complete player, but put a team full of dirty work guys around him and it’s possible he could emerge as a superstar engine of an elite team. He would need to take a big leap as a three-point shooter, defender, or both to get to MVP level, but there’s a world where that could happen.

Tyran Stokes: Stokes is the front-runner to go No. 1 overall in the 2027 NBA Draft right now as a jumbo shot-creator who stockpiles steals and blocks. There are some questions around his mentality. I asked an NBA scout at the combine if they thought Stokes had enough going on upstairs to eventually be a great player, and they responded by saying he’s currently a one-floor apartment. It’s more likely that he never makes an All-Star team than wins MVP, but he’s still a super talented player with plenty of time to learn winning habits.

Let’s get crazy

Rhys Robinson: Robinson is a 16-year-old who won’t be eligible for the NBA Draft until 2029. He’s a tall, high-feel point guard who has played up three years in international competitions and still performed well. He’s in the international pipeline right now but was born in California. I can’t believe I’m putting someone born in 2010 on this list, but the specter of Wemby’s long run of dominance will do crazy things to a man.

Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje: Enrolling at Duke as a 17-year-old this year, JBB won’t be eligible for the draft until 2028. The Florida native is reportedly close to 7-feet tall with the skill to play on the perimeter. He’s more of a forward than a center, and can get hot as a three-point shooter. He could be really good 10 years from now in 2036, if the world still exists at that point.

Predicting the next American-born NBA MVP

Who will be the next American-born NBA MVP? Here’s how I’d rank the candidates.

7. Darryn Peterson

6. LaMelo Ball

5. Chet Holmgren

4. Anthony Edwards

3. Cade Cunningham

2. Cooper Flagg

1. Cameron Boozer

Let us know who you think will be the next American-born NBA MVP below in the comments.

Welcome to our Phoenix Suns Season in Review series, where we revisit every player who suited up during the 2025–26 campaign through the lens of expectation, reality, and what it ultimately meant.

Player Snapshot

• Position: SF/PF
• Age: 30
• 2026-27 Contract Status: $20.0 million
• SunsRank (Preseason): 3
• SunsRank (Postseason): 2

*SunsRank is based on Bright Side writers’ ranking.

Season in One Sentence

Dillon Brooks provided the exact edge and high-intensity defensive resistance that Phoenix desperately needed, even if his occasional boundary-testing on offense left the coaching staff pulling their hair out.

By the Numbers

The Expectation

The ask was simple, at least on paper. Give Devin Booker a break from the toughest nightly assignments. Bring physicality to a wing rotation that had been getting pushed around for two years. Hit enough corner threes to stay on the floor in crunch time. Phoenix did not need Brooks to reinvent himself. They needed him to show up and be exactly who he already was.

We knew what came with all of that. The technicals. The mind games. The staredowns. The relentless trolling. Sometimes it could cost you points in critical moments, but you have to take the good with the bad when it comes to Dillon Brooks. You don’t get the Villain without it.

The Reality

Dillon Brooks had a breakout season for the Phoenix Suns. He averaged a career-high 20.2 points per game on 43.5% shooting from the floor. It wasn’t just his scoring that set the tone of the Suns; it was what he did on the other end of the court.

Brooks was the one guy on this roster who genuinely looked forward to guarding the other team’s best player. He did not rotate off, did not take plays off, and did not flinch when the assignment got ugly. He’d mix it up and get in the head of the opponent’s top option.

His catch-and-shoot numbers held at a respectable 36.8% from deep, which kept defenses from sagging off him entirely and gave the offense legitimate spacing to work with. He shot 34.4% from deep overall, and 49.2 on two-point field goals.

Here is where it gets complicated. Brooks has never been a guy who stays in his lane for 48 minutes, and this season was no different. There were several times he decided to create off the dribble, and possessions died. Ball movement stopped. Jordan Ott’s offensive structure evaporated. The team went from executing to watching one guy hunt a mid-range look with 14 seconds left on the shot clock. And look, some of those possessions were warranted or “heat checks” but we all know the harmful overdribbling Dillon Brooks experience was a thing last year.

What It Means

For two years, this franchise has talked about needing a tough, physical wing who takes pride in the dirty work. Brooks is that guy. He does not need to be reminded. He does not need to be motivated. He shows up ready to compete every single night, and that quality is genuinely rare in a league full of players who pick their spots.

There are plenty of Suns fans who would love to see an extension for Brooks this summer, but the math has to make sense. There are so many different priorities both short and long-term for this team to figure out. But make no mistake… Dillon Brooks, Collin Gillespie and Jordan Goodwin are the dogs that led this team’s culture change. All three need to be here for a while.

Defining Moment

It’s tough to pick any one defining moment from Brooks, as he was a constant meme generator and hit so many big shots over the course of the season.

The career-high 40-point outburst in a win vs. the Pistons in late January has to be my overall pick. He took over this game and carried the Suns to a win with Devin Booker sidelined. It was an efficient 40-piece on just 22 shot attempts. He mixed it up quite a bit with the Pistons throughout as he led the Suns to the convincing win against the number one seed in the East.

Grade: A-

Brooks did his job and then some. To me, he earns a very solid “A minus” because he is largely responsible for this season’s success and overacheiving.

He defended, he competed, and he gave this team an identity on the perimeter that it genuinely lacked before he arrived. The iso tendencies docked him a little bit, but agian, you take the good with the bad with Dillon Brooks. The talent and the toughness were never in question.

The bottom line is there are 29 other teams that would kill to have their own version of Dillon Brooks. He is a tough player to find, and the Suns should not take what he brings to the table for granted. Even if he gives Jordan Ott the ocassional anxiety attack.

The Western Conference Finals started with a bang Monday night as the San Antonio Spurs took out the Oklahoma City Thunder, 122-115 in double overtime.

Mason Plumlee did not get off the bench again, but he’s 36 now and his role is limited: he’s a reliable big man for spot duty as needed. His career is winding down, but he’s not going to do stupid things if called upon.

As for Jared McCain, he got 18 minutes, scored 7 points, 3 rebounds, and an assist.

On Tuesday, Tyrese Proctor and the Cleveland Cavaliers open the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Knicks.

• Jared McCain Could Prove To Be The Piece The Thunder Were Missing In The Regular Season
• 5 Sixers thoughts: Another candidate to replace Daryl Morey, Jared McCain keeps surging and more
• Why did the 76ers trade Jared McCain to the Thunder for so little?
• Jared McCain trade looks even more lopsided following latest 76ers bombshell
• Wemby Dominates for Spurs in 2OT Win vs. SGA, Thunder as Fans Hype WCF Game 1 Thriller
• Spurs-Thunder Game 1 delivers historic 2OT thriller unseen since 1976Thunder fans in absolute awe of Alex Caruso’s unconscious 1st half vs. Spurs

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It didn’t take long for the Minnesota Timberwolves roster to change going into the offseason.

Wolves veteran guard Joe Ingles announced that he is signing with Melbourne United in the NBL, returning to his native Australia after a 12-year stint in the NBA with the Utah Jazz, Milwaukee Bucks, Orlando Magic and the past two seasons in Minnesota.

“Coming home to Melbourne feels incredibly special,” Ingles said via ESPN.

“To return to where my professional career began almost 20 years ago is something I don’t take for granted.

“So much has happened since then, but Melbourne has always felt like home.

“We’re really excited to reconnect with the community here, and to be closer to family and friends again. After so many years overseas, that part means a lot to us.”

While Ingles did not play much for the Wolves during his tenure with the team, he was a valuable veteran for a group on the rise. During the season, Jaylen Clark spoke to Ingles’ importance of being one of the last players on the roster.

That speaks to why the Wolves brought Ingles back last summer despite hardly playing in his first season with the team.

With Ingles gone, it opens up a spot on the roster for a younger player, possibly Enrique Freeman or Rocco Zikarsky from the two-way slots, or the Wolves could bring in another veteran to occupy a veteran minimum deal.

Canis Hoopus community, what do you make of Ingles’ departure? Who should the Wolves bring on board in free agency to fill his spot? Chime off in the comments section below.

Just before the tip off of Game 1 Western Conference Finals, the Oklahoma City crowd was treated to their super star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander receiving his MVP trophy. At the other end of the court, Victor Wembanyama was warming up. The question on the minds of many was exactly what Wemby’s response would be.

In a thrilling double-overtime Spurs victory, the question was answered. Wembanyama tallied a 41-point, 24 rebound game. Comparatively, SGA put up a 24-point game, starting slow with only four points in the first half.

This was the Thunder’s first loss of the postseason. Not something they are used to, but then this wasn’t their usual game.

In fact, if not for the hot shooting of Alex Caruso’s 31-point night, the Thunder spent the evening on the outside looking in. At the end of the third quarter, Caruso and Jalen Williams, in his first game since contracting a hamstring injury, owned nearly half of the Thunder’s scoring output.

The game took its toll as the five starters all tallied more than 40 minutes apiece. Vassell had 51 while Wemby and Castle each played 49.

The Spurs led most of the game, and though the Thunder looked out of sorts, they remained within striking distance throughout. Toward the end of regulation, the momentum shifted slightly giving the Thunder a brief lead.

If not for Wemby’s timely 3-point shot, there might not have a second overtime.

Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals takes place on Wednesday night in Oklahoma City. Expect the Thunder to play with some desperation. Expect they will smooth the rough edges of their Game 1 performance.

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