Steph Curry tells touching story of surprising Jimmy Butler by wearing his shoes originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Jimmy Butler usually is the one doing the surprising.

Remember when the six-time NBA All-Star broke out “Emo Jimmy” for the Miami Heat’s Media Day in 2023 or launched his own coffee brand in the “bubble” in 2020?

Well, it was his Warriors teammate, the one and only Steph Curry, who got Butler this time. Back when the sharpshooter entered his own sneaker free agency and had the entire league wondering what kicks he’d be rocking on any given night, Curry stunned Butler when wearing a pair from his signature line with Li-Ning during a game.

“I think the first time I wore, you know, a shoe other than my own in an actual game, which was the [Li-Ning Jimmy Butler JB4 “Dark Knight”],” Curry said on his YouTube channel when asked about which pair of sneakers he wore that surprised people the most. “Those, even my own teammates, nobody knew I was actually going to wear another shoe outside of mine until literally right when we went to the starting lineups, and we were in the circle.”

“We do like this little dance, and everybody’s getting hype, and then (ex-Golden State fan favorite Buddy Hield) pointed down and is like, ‘Oh, look at–,’ and then Jimmy looked down; he lost his mind because he didn’t even know, because everybody’s kind of in their own mode, getting ready for the game. I’ll remember that moment for the rest of my life, just because it was kind of from a teammate-to-teammate perspective of being able to show love.

Butler had no idea that Curry was rocking his very own kicks during an actual 2025-26 NBA regular-season game for the world to see.

And, while Curry might be partnering with Sotheby’s to admirably auction off his sneaker free agency collection for his own EAT. LEARN. PLAY. Foundation, the four-time NBA champion will be able to cherish the memories from his past season’s shoe game for the rest of time.

“The fact that I made it all the way to tip off and he had no clue I was rocking his shoes,” Curry said, “those types of moments are always fun because you create a memory out of nothing.”

Jimmy Buckets truly had no clue — and Curry will keep the moment with him forever.

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Game 1.

2025-26 NBA award finalists: See the full list of MVP, DPOY, more originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

With the NBA playoffs in full swing, next up is who will win the key awards for the season.

For Defensive Player of the Year, San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama is viewed as the favorite, while Most Improved Player, among other awards, are tougher to call.

Wembanyama will also be in the running for MVP, alongside previous winners in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic.

Rookie of the Year involves No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg, but there’s another strong candidate who may rival him for it.

Here’s the full list of each performance award and the respective finalists, which were revealed on NBC and Peacock:

CLUTCH PLAYER OF THE YEAR

• Anthony Edwards, G, Minnesota Timberwolves
• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, G, Oklahoma City Thunder
• Jamal Murray, G, Denver Nuggets

MOST IMPROVED PLAYER

• Nickeil Alexander-Walker, G, Atlanta Hawks
• Deni Avdija, F, Portland Trail Blazers
• Jalen Duren, C, Detroit Pistons

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

• Chet Holmgren, C, Oklahoma City Thunder
• Ausar Thompson, G/F, Detroit Pistons
• Victor Wembanyama, C, San Antonio Spurs

SIXTHMAN OF THE YEAR

• Tim Hardaway Jr., G, Denver Nuggets
• Keldon Johnson, G/F, San Antonio Spurs
• Jaime Jaquez Jr., G/F, Miami Heat

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, G, Oklahoma City Thunder
• Nikola Jokic, C, Denver Nuggets
• Victor Wembanyama, C, San Antonio Spurs

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

• VJ Edgecombe, G, Philadelphia 76ers
• Cooper Flagg, F, Dallas Mavericks
• Kon Knueppel, F, Charlotte Hornets

COACH OF THE YEAR

• J.B. Bickerstaff, Detroit Pistons
• Mitch Johnson, San Antonio Spurs
• Joe Mazzulla, Boston Celtics

2025-26 NBA award finalists: See the full list of MVP, DPOY, more originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

With the NBA playoffs in full swing, next up is who will win the key awards for the season.

For Defensive Player of the Year, San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama is viewed as the favorite, while Most Improved Player, among other awards, are tougher to call.

Wembanyama will also be in the running for MVP, alongside previous winners in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic.

Rookie of the Year involves No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg, but there’s another strong candidate who may rival him for it.

Here’s the full list of each performance award and the respective finalists, which were revealed on NBC and Peacock:

CLUTCH PLAYER OF THE YEAR

• Anthony Edwards, G, Minnesota Timberwolves
• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, G, Oklahoma City Thunder
• Jamal Murray, G, Denver Nuggets

MOST IMPROVED PLAYER

• Nickeil Alexander-Walker, G, Atlanta Hawks
• Deni Avdija, F, Portland Trail Blazers
• Jalen Duren, C, Detroit Pistons

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

• Chet Holmgren, C, Oklahoma City Thunder
• Ausar Thompson, G/F, Detroit Pistons
• Victor Wembanyama, C, San Antonio Spurs

SIXTHMAN OF THE YEAR

• Tim Hardaway Jr., G, Denver Nuggets
• Keldon Johnson, G/F, San Antonio Spurs
• Jaime Jaquez Jr., G/F, Miami Heat

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, G, Oklahoma City Thunder
• Nikola Jokic, C, Denver Nuggets
• Victor Wembanyama, C, San Antonio Spurs

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

• VJ Edgecombe, G, Philadelphia 76ers
• Cooper Flagg, F, Dallas Mavericks
• Kon Knueppel, F, Charlotte Hornets

COACH OF THE YEAR

• J.B. Bickerstaff, Detroit Pistons
• Mitch Johnson, San Antonio Spurs
• Joe Mazzulla, Boston Celtics

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Sunday brings another slate of playoff openers in the NBA, with some of the biggest young stars in the league seeing action tonight.

That includes both Paolo Banchero and Victor Wembanyama, both of whom I’m picking to have big games for their teams in my NBA player prop picks for tonight.

Keep reading to see my favorite NBA picks from Sunday, April 19.

Best NBA player props today

Player	Pick
Paolo Banchero	Over 33.5 points + rebounds + assists	-115
Victor Wembanyama	Over 11.5 rebounds	-130
De'Aaron Fox	Over 1.5 made threes	-120

Prop #1: Paolo Banchero Over 33.5 points + rebounds + assists

-115 at bet365

The Orlando Magic needed to win on Friday to finally clinch their playoff spot, doing so in style with a 121-90 victory over the Charlotte Hornets. Paolo Banchero was at the heart of that victory, scoring 25 points and putting up 36 total PRA.

That’s nothing unusual for the Magic star, who averaged 35.8 PRA for the season and surpassed his total for tonight’s game in four of his last five regular-season games, including a 31-point, 37 PRA performance against the Detroit Pistons earlier this month.

Orlando will need more performances like that to have a chance in this series. I expect the Magic to lean heavily on Banchero, making him an excellent choice to hit his PRA total tonight and throughout the series.

• Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: NBC

Prop #2: Victor Wembanyama Over 11.5 rebounds

-130 at bet365

Victor Wembanyama put together perhaps his most complete season this year, playing 71 games and continuing to dominate defensively. Wembanyama averaged career highs of 25 points and 11.5 rebounds per game, all while the San Antonio Spurs have carefully limited his minutes, letting him play just under 30 per night.

We won’t see those kinds of restrictions or careful usage in the playoffs. Wemby finished the regular season strong on the boards, collecting 13+ rebounds in seven of his last eight.

There’s no reason to expect anything less from the 22-year-old now that the Spurs are pushing to make a deep playoff run, and I love Wembanyama’s rebounding Over tonight.

• Time: 9:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: NBC

Prop #3: De'Aaron Fox Over 1.5 made threes

-120 at bet365

De’Aaron Fox has been an important complementary piece for the Spurs this year, averaging 18.6 PPG on 48.6% shooting. That includes solid shooting from deep, hitting 33.2% of his threes for the season.

We saw Fox shoot more freely from deep in the final few games of the season, hitting 2+ from beyond the arc in each of his last three games.

And with the Portland Trail Blazers certain to focus on preventing Wembanyama from singlehandedly beating them, that should make it easier for Fox to get open and to fire away from deep. With his made threes total at a modest 1.5, I like the Over.

• Time: 9:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: NBC

These props are available now at bet365, one of our best betting sites.

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

Ranking the eight NBA first-round playoff matchups: Celtics-76ers highlight originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

It’s the best time of the NBA season.

After 82 long games, it’s time for the even more grueling grind of the postseason. Sixteen more wins are required to hoist the championship.

The cream will rise to the top, while others may get exposed in a setting where every weakness and every margin matter.

So, which of the eight battles in the first round will be the one to relish the most? Let’s rank them from least to most entertaining:

8. Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Phoenix Suns

Oklahoma City is the No. 1 seed after winning the championship last season. Led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder should easily handle a Phoenix team with Devin Booker running the show. Booker’s main supporting cast is Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green. Not good enough. They could steal one game with hot shooting, but the Thunder should cruise to the second round, health willing.

7. New York Knicks vs. Atlanta Hawks

This postseason is a significant part of the Knicks‘ current timeline. Jalen Brunson needs to lead the team to at least the conference finals, but Karl-Anthony Towns has to quell his previous defensive miscues if New York is to take the next step. Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and Josh Hart will need to have the odd hot game every now and then, too. Combine all of that and they should also get past Atlanta with little worries, as the Hawks really only have Jalen Johnson and C.J. McCollum as their main on-the-ball threats. Nickeil Alexander-Walker is also facing a defining run amid a career year, while Jonathan Kuminga will need to offer more consistency if an unlikely upset transpires.

6. Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Toronto Raptors

Neither of these teams are expected to win the championship, but it’ll be interesting to see if James Harden can add more that Darius Garland couldn’t, especially if the top ranking on the list spices things up. Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen have been here before, but the latter two and their relatively inexperienced supporting cast will need to step up. Toronto is led by the trio of Brandon Ingram, RJ Barrett and Scottie Barnes, but that’s not the right balance to move the needle in the postseason.

5. Denver Nuggets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves

This matchup and Cleveland-Toronto could be swapped, but ultimately the star quality of Nikola Jokic and Anthony Edwards provided the edge. Jokic and Jamal Murray have to do a lot of heavy lifting to win the championship, but they should be enough to take down Edwards, who likely will struggle alongside Julius Randle as his main scoring threat.

4. San Antonio Spurs vs. Portland Trail Blazers

Here it gets a little more intriguing. San Antonio is back in the playoff setting where it thrived under Gregg Popovich, and this time Victor Wembanyama is involved. With De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell and more balanced profiles, the Spurs are rightfully in the contending mix. The playoff inexperience might be a hurdle, but the conference finals should be the minimum. If they get OKC, anything can happen. Portland is also new blood after a while, with Deni Avdija, Shaedon Sharpe, Jerami Grant and Jrue Holiday the key figures. The Blazers need this experience for their trajectory, so it’ll be interesting to see how they fare.

3. Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets

Injuries are the main concern in this matchup, but if players come back in time then the intensity and quality will increase. Kevin Durant missed Game 1 for Houston in its loss to Los Angeles, while LeBron James turned back the clock without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Whoever triumphs may just come down to health, but Houston looked rough on offense without Durant. That bodes well for point guard LeBron, who received major help from Luke Kennard. Regardless, Durant vs. LeBron in 2026 can still attract hype.

2. Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers

Joel Embiid has previously said this matchup isn’t a rivalry. To paraphrase safely, the Celtics tend to rout the 76ers. That was the case in Game 1, but adding Embiid back into the frame could swing a few games for Philly. Boston will still be favored overall given Jayson Tatum’s return and the Eastern Conference being weaker, but Tyrese Maxey, V.J. Edgecombe and Paul George can supply key help that Embiid hasn’t always had. Plus, who doesn’t love when these two cities face off?

1. Detroit Pistons vs. Orlando Magic

But the top spot goes to Detroit and Orlando. In a matchup that should be a throwback to the league’s past, the Pistons have soared to the top seed with Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren leading the way. However, with Tobias and Duncan Robinson being the next two key scorers, there is a risk of Detroit being upset here. Orlando will need to be at its best, which hasn’t always been the case as it hung on to the No. 8 seed. Still, Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Desmond Bane, Anthony Black and Co. won’t get a better chance to raise their trajectory than here. Let the battle commence.

Ranking the eight NBA first-round playoff matchups: Celtics-76ers highlight originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

It’s the best time of the NBA season.

After 82 long games, it’s time for the even more grueling grind of the postseason. Sixteen more wins are required to hoist the championship.

The cream will rise to the top, while others may get exposed in a setting where every weakness and every margin matter.

So, which of the eight battles in the first round will be the one to relish the most? Let’s rank them from least to most entertaining:

8. Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Phoenix Suns

Oklahoma City is the No. 1 seed after winning the championship last season. Led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder should easily handle a Phoenix team with Devin Booker running the show. Booker’s main supporting cast is Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green. Not good enough. They could steal one game with hot shooting, but the Thunder should cruise to the second round, health willing.

7. New York Knicks vs. Atlanta Hawks

This postseason is a significant part of the Knicks‘ current timeline. Jalen Brunson needs to lead the team to at least the conference finals, but Karl-Anthony Towns has to quell his previous defensive miscues if New York is to take the next step. Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and Josh Hart will need to have the odd hot game every now and then, too. Combine all of that and they should also get past Atlanta with little worries, as the Hawks really only have Jalen Johnson and C.J. McCollum as their main on-the-ball threats. Nickeil Alexander-Walker is also facing a defining run amid a career year, while Jonathan Kuminga will need to offer more consistency if an unlikely upset transpires.

6. Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Toronto Raptors

Neither of these teams are expected to win the championship, but it’ll be interesting to see if James Harden can add more that Darius Garland couldn’t, especially if the top ranking on the list spices things up. Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen have been here before, but the latter two and their relatively inexperienced supporting cast will need to step up. Toronto is led by the trio of Brandon Ingram, RJ Barrett and Scottie Barnes, but that’s not the right balance to move the needle in the postseason.

5. Denver Nuggets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves

This matchup and Cleveland-Toronto could be swapped, but ultimately the star quality of Nikola Jokic and Anthony Edwards provided the edge. Jokic and Jamal Murray have to do a lot of heavy lifting to win the championship, but they should be enough to take down Edwards, who likely will struggle alongside Julius Randle as his main scoring threat.

4. San Antonio Spurs vs. Portland Trail Blazers

Here it gets a little more intriguing. San Antonio is back in the playoff setting where it thrived under Gregg Popovich, and this time Victor Wembanyama is involved. With De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell and more balanced profiles, the Spurs are rightfully in the contending mix. The playoff inexperience might be a hurdle, but the conference finals should be the minimum. If they get OKC, anything can happen. Portland is also new blood after a while, with Deni Avdija, Shaedon Sharpe, Jerami Grant and Jrue Holiday the key figures. The Blazers need this experience for their trajectory, so it’ll be interesting to see how they fare.

3. Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets

Injuries are the main concern in this matchup, but if players come back in time then the intensity and quality will increase. Kevin Durant missed Game 1 for Houston in its loss to Los Angeles, while LeBron James turned back the clock without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Whoever triumphs may just come down to health, but Houston looked rough on offense without Durant. That bodes well for point guard LeBron, who received major help from Luke Kennard. Regardless, Durant vs. LeBron in 2026 can still attract hype.

2. Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers

Joel Embiid has previously said this matchup isn’t a rivalry. To paraphrase safely, the Celtics tend to rout the 76ers. That was the case in Game 1, but adding Embiid back into the frame could swing a few games for Philly. Boston will still be favored overall given Jayson Tatum’s return and the Eastern Conference being weaker, but Tyrese Maxey, V.J. Edgecombe and Paul George can supply key help that Embiid hasn’t always had. Plus, who doesn’t love when these two cities face off?

1. Detroit Pistons vs. Orlando Magic

But the top spot goes to Detroit and Orlando. In a matchup that should be a throwback to the league’s past, the Pistons have soared to the top seed with Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren leading the way. However, with Tobias and Duncan Robinson being the next two key scorers, there is a risk of Detroit being upset here. Orlando will need to be at its best, which hasn’t always been the case as it hung on to the No. 8 seed. Still, Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Desmond Bane, Anthony Black and Co. won’t get a better chance to raise their trajectory than here. Let the battle commence.