Trade machines were still overheating from a bombshell report that Giannis Antetokounmpo was evaluating his future in Milwaukee when he collapsed just 180 seconds into Wednesday night’s game. It was a calf strain on the court, but it felt like the universe telling the Bucks that the countdown clock had begun.

At Antetokounmpo’s request, the Bucks called the Knicks about a trade this offseason, but no deal was reached. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the list of suitors will go “well beyond just the Knicks” if Giannis decides over the next few weeks he wants to move on from Milwaukee.

And frankly, it has to. New York has little to offer but the bright lights Antetokounmpo suddenly craves. This is what their best possible offer might look like:

• Bucks get: KAT, OG Anunoby, 2030 swap, 2032 swap, seven second-round picks

• Knicks get: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kyle Kuzma, Thanasis Antetokounmpo

Swap in Mikal Bridges for Anunoby if you’d like, or send KAT to a third team with different assets coming to Milwaukee. No matter the iteration, New York is a destitute trade partner, having already emptied its chamber for Towns and Bridges. 

If Giannis wants to end up with the Knicks, he’s going to have to use all the leverage he can to get there: Age 31, signed only through the 2026-27 season, and now dealing with an apparent injury, he could steer his way where he wants to go by threatening to leave for a team with cap space in 2027.

But you’d think something would’ve happened by now if there was a deal that worked, or if the Knicks were really that excited about pairing Giannis with Jalen Brunson, which is no guarantee to be a match after witnessing the Giannis/Damian Lillard pairing flop hard. And crucially, Giannis doesn’t have a no-trade clause.

When a player of Antetokounmpo’s magnitude is traded, the team owner will have something to say about how they go about it. You have the old guard, Wes Edens, who has owned the team since Giannis was a skinny teenager and has been there to approve every major decision of the recent era from dumping Khris Middleton in Washington to shipping away Jrue Holiday for Lillard. Maybe he’s still feeling a moral obligation to do right by the player who won his franchise a championship and was the engine that increased Milwaukee’s valuation from $550 million to $4.3 billion in just over a decade.

Then you have the new money, Jimmy Haslam, who bought a 25% stake in the team in 2023 at a premium price, but due to a quirk in the team’s bylaws, Edens retains lead control of the team through 2028. Haslam inherited a Bucks franchise that has been slowly hollowed out by decisions that Giannis himself pushed for. Haslam has seen the firing of Mike Budenholzer, the disaster of the Adrian Griffin hiring, the panic-pivot to Doc Rivers, and the Dame trade that gutted the team’s assets. Every time the franchise gave Giannis the keys, the car got a few more dents. All while his general manager, Jon Horst, has whiffed on almost every single draft pick he’s made in recent years, failing to provide the cheap, young rotation pieces necessary to support a supermax payroll.

[Get more Bucks news: Milwaukee team feed]

Haslam knows exactly what a bloated, asset-poor roster with no future looks like. He already owns the Cleveland Browns.

This Bucks ownership group desperately needs to be aligned, especially given what happened earlier this year when Patrick Dumont fell asleep at the wheel in Dallas. The Mavs owner treated a superstar exit like a standard transaction, and woke up to a cratered franchise and a fan base calling for his head. It is the exact scenario Milwaukee has to avoid.

If it turns out it’s time for Antetokounmpo to move on, Edens and Haslam are not just choosing a trade package, they are choosing a philosophy. Milwaukee will have three distinct paths. Here are each of them, including some fake trades to detail what those returns could resemble.

Path 1: The Win-Win

Remember when the Thunder traded Paul George to the Clippers? George got exactly what he wanted by being sent to Southern California. And even though everyone thought the Clippers would be annual contenders by pairing George with Kawhi Leonard, it turned out it was the Thunder who received the best player in the trade in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, plus a big pile of draft assets. So maybe the Bucks can thread the needle by sending Giannis to a team he wants to go to and get a haul.

Fake Trade: Giannis to the Spurs

• Bucks get: Dylan Harper, Devin Vassell, Kelly Olynyk, 2026 Hawks first, 2028 Celtics first, 2030 Mavs or Wolves first, 2031 Kings swap

• Spurs get: Giannis, Thanasis

Harper, the second pick this June, has superstar upside. And Vassell is a good player today with youth on his side. Even if the Spurs refused to give up Harper, maybe that means Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle would be included. And even if Castle were off the table, the Spurs can put more highly valuable picks on the table.

Fake Trade: Giannis to the Rockets

• Bucks get: Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., Fred VanVleet, Dorian Finney-Smith, 2027 Nets first, 2028 Rockets first, 2029 Mavs or Suns first, 2031 Rockets first

• Rockets get: Giannis, AJ Green, Thanasis

Amen could become a star. Smith looks like a quality player with potential untapped upside. And this is a good group of draft assets. The Rockets also have other pieces that could be swapped in, whether it’s Reed Sheppard or different draft picks.

Though neither team is a glamor market that might appeal to him given his known interest in the Knicks, Giannis would be wise to include both Houston and San Antonio on his list. These teams are ready to take the next step. Giannis and Victor Wembanyama could form the most freakish duo in NBA history, while Giannis would be a tremendous upgrade over Houston’s outgoing youth.

But it takes two to tango anyway. Maybe the Spurs decide it’s too early to cash in so many assets. Maybe the Rockets angle for roster tweaks rather than a big splash. These types of returns might end up feeling like a fantasy.

Path 2: The Gold-Watch Send-Off

This is when you look at the guy who carried your franchise for a decade, and you decide to do him a solid by sending him wherever he wants to go. And you do it even if it means taking 60 cents on the dollar because you don’t want the “Curse of the Greek Freak” hanging over your team for decades to come. So you hug, you cry, and you pretend you’re happy with the above average players and the picks that’ll bring in more above average players.

We know for sure Giannis likes the Knicks. The other teams are currently unknown. But we can at least take some guesses:

Fake Trade: Giannis wants to team up with Steph Curry

• Bucks get: Jimmy Butler, Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, 2026 first, 2027 swap, 2028 first, 2029 swap, 2031 swap, 2032 first

• Warriors get: Giannis, Kuzma, Thanasis

Pretty gross for Milwaukee. The Warriors often look better without Kuminga and Moody. Butler would also need to be shipped to a third team. This deal stinks.

Fake Trade: Giannis wants to team up with Luka

• Bucks get: Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, Gabe Vincent, Dalton Knecht, 2028 swap, 2030 swap, 2031 first, 2032 swap

• Lakers get: Giannis, Cole Anthony, Thanasis

Actually not bad considering Reaves has turned into a 30/6/6 player. But he can also be a free agent next summer, so there’s a risk that he’d walk. Plus, only getting one real first in the trade is kind of a joke. Pass!

Fake Trade: Giannis wants to take his talents to South Beach

• Bucks get: Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Terry Rozier, 2029 swap, 2030 first, 2031 swap, 2032 first

• Heat get: Giannis, Thanasis, Bobby Portis, Gary Harris

Ware and Jaquez would be a solid haul. But is either going to be a star? Probably not. Miami’s firsts also probably won’t be any good, and Herro can become a free agent in 2027. This deal is a pass.

The Bucks can clearly do much better. None of these deals matches the draft equity that’s been sent for recently traded superstars. And Milwaukee should be seeking both quality talent that helps now and assets that help later.

Path 3: The Ugly Breakup

Maybe the Bucks aren’t worried about feelings, much like the Trail Blazers weren’t when they sent Lillard to Milwaukee instead of Miami. Or the Spurs when they sent Kawhi to the Raptors. And so on. We’ve seen this story before. Business is cold. Maybe it’s time to stop giving Giannis what he wants.

Fake Trade: The Bucks want their picks back

• Bucks get: Trae Young, 2026 Bucks or Pelicans first, 2027 Bucks or Pelicans first, 2029 Hawks first, 2031 Hawks first 

• Hawks get: Giannis, Thanasis

Trae could at least make the Bucks look competent. But the main allure here is getting their own draft capital back so they can tank properly over the next two years. And as it stands, the Bucks are just a few games removed from the bottom feeders, so increased lottery odds are in range with a loaded 2026 draft class serving as the prize.

Fake Trade: The Bucks want a proven star

• Bucks get: Jaylen Brown, Payton Pritchard, 2026 first, 2030 swap, 2031 first, 2032 swap

• Celtics get: Giannis, Thanasis

Years ago, Brown was offered by Boston to San Antonio for Kawhi. But the Spurs preferred a deal with the Raptors, which involved a far more proven DeMar DeRozan. This type of deal would follow that logic to a greater extreme since Brown is a former Finals MVP having a career year. Plus he’s in the second year of a five-year contract, so the Bucks would have time to make things work with him. So while the Bucks can and should do better, this deal is actually not that awful.

Fake Trade: A random trade goes all-in

• Bucks get: Ace Bailey, Jusuf Nurkic, Kyle Anderson, Georges Niang, as many picks as it takes

• Jazz get: Giannis, Thanasis

These are the types of returns the Bucks have to pray for. A lottery pick and a huge load of draft picks. The Jazz can trade up to nine firsts. The Nets can give up to nine as well. The Hornets could give up to eight. These are the teams that could, in theory, be so desperate to go from worst-to-first that they’d unload for a chance at a future Hall of Famer, even if he would be initially unhappy to be there.

Fake Trade: OKC decides to end the NBA

• Bucks get: Isaiah Hartenstein, Aaron Wiggins, Isaiah Joe, Nikola Topić, as many picks as it takes

• Thunder get: Giannis, Thanasis

Sam Presti has been hoarding draft picks. For what? In part, to keep hitting in the draft so he can replace pricey role players with cheap ones on rookie-scale contracts. But how sustainable is SGA’s astronomical usage? Could there at least be some thought put toward acquiring a second superstar when OKC can offer up to 10 first-round picks? If Presti decides to push the button, nobody can outbid him.

But will a GM go all out? Antetokounmpo is a hard player to build around due to his lack of a reliable jumper, especially integrating him midseason. And on the wrong side of 30 with a player option looming for the 2027-28 season, there needs to be some confidence that he’d be there for the long haul. Or else a deal for Giannis could become less of a blockbuster and more of a gamble.

How does this movie end?

If the Bucks choose Path 1, it requires a trade partner acting irrationally generous. And if it’s Path 2, they likely doom themselves to basketball purgatory. If they choose Path 3, they might replenish the war chest, but they risk becoming the team that treated its greatest hero like any other asset. Then again, history has a funny way of rewarding the cold-hearted.

In 2013, the Celtics traded Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to the Nets for a bunch of middle schoolers. It was widely criticized as a betrayal of loyalty and a premature death of the relationship. But those middle schoolers grew up to be Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. And after a decade of sustained winning, they finally won the championship.

In 2018, the Raptors shockingly traded their face of the franchise in DeMar DeRozan for Kawhi Leonard, who was just a rental. But they took the risk anyway and ended up winning their first title in history.

Sentimentality gets you standing ovations, but ruthlessness raises banners. So, there is a different route the Bucks could take here. And that’s the preemptive strike.

The Bucks don’t have to wait for Giannis to make a choice. They can decide to take control of their own timeline. They can decide that the window is closed, the roster is broken, and the only way out is by ending this relationship themselves. And maybe, deep down, that is exactly what Giannis wants: The freedom to leave, without the guilt of being the one who said goodbye.

Both New York clubs are searching for starting pitching this offseason, and two players they are reportedly strongly considering are Tatsuya Imai and Michael King. 

The Mets and Yankees are among the most interested in the free agent righties, according to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. 

That certainly doesn’t come as a surprise, as both would present a strong addition to either clubs rotation. 

Imai, who was posted by the NPB’s Seibu Lions this offseason, is coming off a spectacular campaign in which he pitched to a career-best 1.92 ERA and 0.89 WHIP in 163 innings. 

His plus-arsenal includes a mid-90s fastball, a splitter, slider, and cutter. 

He has until Jan. 2 to sign with a club, and according to a recent report from the Athletic, he is expected to visit with teams upon the end of next week’s Winter Meetings. 

Boston, Philly, and the Cubs are also believed to be interested as well.

King was tremendous in 2024 as he transitioned from the bullpen to a full-time starter, but he battled injuries for most of last season and was limited to just 15 outings with the Padres. 

He dealt with a nerve injury in his throwing shoulder, and also lost time due to a knee injury.

The NY native and former Yankee has top of the rotation potential when healthy, but concerns over his durability could result in him landing a short-term deal this offseason. 

King could potentially bet on himself with an eye on hitting the market again next winter, but there are several other clubs in the mix for his talents including the Orioles, Tigers, and Marlins. 

Giants notes: new reliever Sam Hentges has previous ties to manager Tony Vitello originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO — At his introductory press conference in October, Giants manager Tony Vitello mentioned how Bryce Eldridge had turned him down when Vitello was trying to get him to come to Tennessee. Eldridge won’t be the only Giant next season who chose to go pro instead of playing for one of Vitello’s teams. 

New left-handed reliever Sam Hentges was recruited to Arkansas by Vitello in 2014, but he was taken in the fourth round of the MLB draft by the Cleveland Guardians and chose to start his career right out of high school. A decade later, Hentges is hopeful he’s pitching high-leverage innings for Vitello in his first season as a manager. 

The Giants signed Hentges to a one-year deal earlier this week, betting that he’ll be able to overcome two recent surgeries and give them another good left-handed option in their bullpen. Hentges had shoulder surgery in 2024 and knee surgery this past August, but on a Zoom call with reporters, he said his rehab is going well and he anticipates being 100 percent by the start of the spring. 

Hentges called it a “tough rehab,” and it was interrupted when he felt swelling in his right knee while going through a throwing program following shoulder surgery. He ended up needing a procedure to repair a tear in his meniscus. 

Hentges had a 4.18 ERA in four seasons in Cleveland, and over his last three — when he was purely used as a reliever — that number was 2.93, with an even shinier 2.66 FIP. He said the Giants “came in aggressively” when he hit free agency for the first time. 

“The opportunity that they have with Tony Vitello there and some new coaches — we just thought it would be a good fit,” Hentges said. “They came in pretty aggressively from what we were expecting, so it kind of turned out to be a no-brainer decision.”

Hentges said he doesn’t know a lot of current Giants, although he lives in the Phoenix area so he’s working out with other big leaguers and minor leaguers at their Papago complex. He does know Vitello, though, and he’s looking forward to reuniting years after he turned the new manager down. 

Another Familiar Face

Hentges let it slip that he has been working with longtime big league right-hander Jesse Chavez, and the Giants confirmed that he has been hired as Vitello’s new bullpen coach. The full staff is still being finalized and will be announced in the coming days. 

Chavez, 42, is as new to coaching as it gets. He made four appearances for the Atlanta Braves last season, capping an 18-year career that included stints with nine different teams. Chavez pitched for the Braves in each of the last four seasons and also spent time with the A’s early in his career. 

What Will They Do …

The Marco Luciano waiver claim opened a 40-man roster spot, which may be notable. The Giants didn’t anticipate Luciano competing for a big league job in the spring, but they also didn’t have to make a move with his spot this early. 

The spot could go to a free agent or player acquired via trade, but it also allows the Giants to participate in the Rule 5 Draft next Wednesday. They’ll have the 15th selection in the draft. 

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

As the Mets search for a top of the rotation starter, they are “among the favorites” for free agent left-hander Framber Valdez, reports Mark Feinsand of MLB.com.

Per Feinsand, the Orioles are also viewed as a top suitor for Valdez.

In addition to Valdez, Feinsand reports that the Mets are one of the teams most interested in free agent starters Tatsuya Imai and Michael King.

Additionally, Feinsand links the Mets to Ranger Suarez, but lists his most serious suitors as the Astros, Cubs, and Orioles. 

As far as the 32-year-old Valdez, he has been a workhorse over the last four seasons while posting a 3.21 ERA and 1.15 WHIP across 767.2 innings. 

After leading the American League in innings pitched in 2022 (201.1 IP), Valdez hasn’t really slowed down. He fired 198.0 innings in 2023, 176.1 innings in 2024, and 192.0 innings this past season.

His ERA in 2025 was 3.66 — the highest it’s been since 2019, when Valdez was working mostly in relief. But while the ERA was a tick high, there wasn’t much cause for concern elsewhere, as Valdez’s WHIP, hit rate, walk rate, home run rate, and strikeout rate were all right around his career averages. 

It’s also worth noting that Valdez has excelled over the course of his career despite never being an advanced stats darling. 

Part of the reason why he’s able to perform so well while not blowing hitters away is his elite ground ball rate, which was in the 97th percentile in 2025. Valdez’s sinker — which he relied on 44 percent of the time this past season — also graded out strongly, ranking in the 91st percentile. 

When it comes to Valdez’s advanced stats, there are some causes for concern. The biggest one is that his curve ball and slider — his two main secondary pitches — both graded out poorly in 2025. That was a stark difference from the prior three seasons, so perhaps it was just a one-year blip.

There was also troubling moment with Valdez this past September, when he seemingly intentionally crossed up his catcher in order to hit him with a pitch — and showed no remorse after. For his part, Valdez claimed it was unintentional. 

So let’s say – speaking hypothetically, Hal – the Yankees do indeed lower their payroll heading into the 2026 season. Obviously, they still intend to contend and they probably have enough talent to be a playoff threat.

But what would their winter look like if they forgo spending mega free agent dollars and work to improve on the margins only? They of course will reap benefits from an eventual Gerrit Cole return to an already-plus rotation, in addition to the usual Aaron Judge awesomeness and a roster with other strong points. 

Even so, they could use a Cody Bellinger return, bullpen fortification, a righty, defense-first first baseman and perhaps a stop-gap starter. Maybe a utility player, too. 

How does that all work in an offseason in which the owner, Hal Steinbrenner said, “Would it be ideal if I went down (with the payroll)? Of course. But does that mean it’s going to happen? Of course not. We want to field a team we know could win a championship, or we believe could win a championship.” 

With that in mind, here are some suggestions for the Yankees if we remove boldface free agent names such as Bellinger and Kyle Tucker from their options. 

Yeah, we know fiscal restraint doesn’t fit some folks’ “Act like the Yankees and spend big” worldview, but this is just one potential spending scenario in a Hot Stove winter where all things are possible. Heck, maybe it means they’re saving it up for next winter and a free-agent run at Tarik Skubal. Oh, now you’re interested.

Outfield options

This is easy. They want Bellinger back, but he’s so versatile and so skilled in multiple baseball departments that he’s in high demand. For instance, Met fans would love it if he were another Yankee relocation to Queens. So if Bellinger goes elsewhere, what do the Yanks do on the grass? 

Nothing.

Not sexy, we know. Signing Tucker would bring sizzle. But that might be $100 million more than whatever Bellinger costs. If the Yankees are trying to tamp down the payroll, they have choices here. Judge plays right, Trent Grisham, who accepted the qualifying offer, is back in center and Jasson Domínguez and/or top prospect Spencer Jones figure it out in left field. 

Swing-and-miss is a part of Jones’ game, yes. But so is admirable athleticism and dizzying power. He had a .932 OPS and 35 homers across two minor league levels last season. Might be time to find out what he’s got. 

“The Martian” might not have had the otherworldly (get it?) rookie season Yankees fans would have wanted. But Domínguez was once the most-hyped prospect in the world and one season doesn’t say it all about his career. Might be time to find out what he’s got, too. 

If the Yanks do re-sign Bellinger, they could put Jones, Domínguez, and perhaps even Grisham into the trade carousel to address other needs.

Pitching ponderables

With Cole and Carlos Rodón both starting the season late, the Yanks need rotation depth to add to Max Fried, Cam Schlittler, Luis Gil and Will Warren. They re-signed Ryan Yarbrough, who will help, and could examine other lower-level free agents, too.

We’re thinking of names such as Tyler Mahle (2.18 ERA in 16 starts with Texas last season). The righty allowed only five homers in 86.2 innings and home run suppression skills could help in Yankee Stadium. Righty Adrian Houser revived his career with 11 sharp starts with the White Sox, though he had less success after a trade to the Rays. 

Across their history, the Yanks have thrived at bringing in older stars who made their name with other teams, dating way back to the days of Johnny Mize or Enos Slaughter. Could they do it with one from this duo of the Cooperstown-bound ageless hurlers Max Scherzer or Justin Verlander? Might be a fun one-year deal for either.

As for the bullpen, the Yankees have vacancies left by Devin Williams and probably Luke Weaver, who is a free agent. The club has been really good at finding and developing useful relievers who might not be household names. They got mileage out of Ian Hamilton, for instance, and Clay Holmes bloomed under their tutelage. Do they have a few more in the pipeline?

Maybe they go that route again. If not, there are plenty of potentially-useful relief arms available and they wouldn’t be top-of-the-market outlays, including Kyle Finnegan and Michael Kopech. Could they revive former Jays closer Jordan Romano, who is coming off two poor seasons?

Also, several of the Yankees’ most highly-regarded prospects are pitchers, including 22-year-old Elmer Rodriguez, who got to Triple-A for one start last season and had a 2.58 ERA in 150 innings over three levels. Could the kids figure as inexpensive options or trade fodder?

Bench marks

A righty-hitting complement to Ben Rice at first base would be a nice pickup — someone who can help school the slugging Rice on the defensive nuances of the position. Paul Goldschmidt redux?

Signing a utility player would fortify the bench, too. They liked Amed Rosario last season for his righty bat and he can provide coverage in the infield and outfield. 

So could free agent Willi Castro, a coveted utility man last trade deadline. The switch hitter fizzled after going from the Twins to the Cubs, but he has experience at every position but catcher and first base. 

We are about a quarter of the way through the NBA’s regular season and it’s time to check back in on the rookies. This is where things get interesting from an evaluation standpoint. If the start of the season is surrounded by hope and optimism, this portion of the program brings a measure of reality.

Fit, opportunity and context will rule the day with young players, but now we can see how the league has adjusted to the rookies, and how the rookies are reacting to how the league has adjusted to them. 

Scouting reports have been updated. What are these rookies being asked to do on a nightly basis? Is the game slowing down for them? Are opponents treating them differently? Let’s take a look at the top 10 rookies.

1. Kon Knueppel, Hornets

High-level, consistent production is not always the hallmark of a rookie campaign, but that is exactly what has made Knueppel’s start stand out. Knueppel is the first player in NBA history to make 50 3-pointers in his first 15 career games, and the first Hornets rookie to score 20 points in at least 10 of his first 20 career games. The shot-making speaks for itself, but he’s leveraging those skills to open up drives.

In dribble handoffs or pick-and-roll, a quick peek at the rim keeps defenders off balance. His confidence continues to grow as he looks to initiate contact when he turns the corner. Whether on-ball or off-ball, he works to come off screens tight to open up space to attack. It’s been fun to watch Knueppel battle as a screener, setting up flat angles to slip into space with defenses working to rotate and take it away. 

2. Cooper Flagg, Mavericks

Growth is the name of the game for Flagg, who has taken some of the early-season struggles and turned things around for the better. The 18-year-old, who is fourth in the NBA in clutch points (52 points on 13-of-27 shooting from the field), has found increased comfort and confidence over the past month.

In November, 26.1% of Flagg’s field-goal attempts came in the restricted area (where he shot 75.4%). He’s working to put his head down and get to his spots and showing improved patience to wait on screens and set up his defender. And if the defense cuts him off on those drives, he’s working to spin, hit and finish. Dallas has him attacking more mismatches as the season progresses. The more help he draws on those drives, the more he can showcase his passing ability. That aggression will enhance how Dallas can use Flagg in different ways offensively. 

3. Cedric Coward, Grizzlies

The blistering 3-point shooting Coward displayed to start the season has slowed (30.7% from 3 in November), but the confidence and impact have remained high. Coward has played his way into the starting lineup, and his versatility on and off the ball has helped the team’s growth.

The nature of Memphis’ offensive flow has led to more opportunities for Coward to attack in pick-and-roll or handoffs. While he can get to his spot in the midrange, I’m intrigued to watch his mindset on drives. He has the size and length, but it feels like he could be even more physical when he gets deeper in the paint. His passing ability on drives has stood out, though, as he finds a way to make late passes when he engages the defense in space. 

4. VJ Edgecombe, 76ers

The scoring from Edgecombe has gone down. It could be that more teams are working to take his shot away. It could be the returns of Paul George and Jared McCain. It could be his own return from injury. Or it may just be the fact that his 3-point shot is not falling at the same clip. Whatever the case, that should all balance itself out, and it’s clear he remains a key piece for this Sixers team.

One positive is he’s still willing to let it fly from deep. He just has to remember it was the blend of shot-making and drives that led to the hot start (10.6 drives per game in October, 6.4 drives per game in November). 

5. Derik Queen, Pelicans

Since James Borrego took over as interim coach, the Pelicans have been more than willing to play through Queen, who has showcased his unique versatility during this stretch. Allowing him to operate at the top of the key highlights his real strength: passing. If you have not seen Queen’s passing, he will quickly rise on your “that boy nice” rankings. And when defenses work to take away cutters, he’s not afraid to attack 1v1 and drive, either.

While it looks like you can pressure him on the perimeter, he is physical, understands angles and can turn the corner. He also has good footwork, with the ability to spin and finish if you cut him off. One area of opportunity comes on the defensive end, where he needs to do his work early. That will move him toward making multiple efforts and avoid fouling. 

6. Jeremiah Fears, Pelicans

When it comes to rookies, Fears has the longest streak of scoring 10+ points (19 games). He may also unofficially lead all rookies in getting in the face of anyone (looking at you Luka Dončić and Jimmy Butler). The lightning speed that Fears operates with on the court speaks for itself, but you can see how the Pelicans have embraced it. Fears has used quick throw-aheads or outlets off made baskets as an opportunity to attack before defenses are set. And his tremendous burst in the half-court works to manipulate defenders.

What has impressed me the most is his consistent physicality. He launches himself into defenders in the paint. And to add to the “Zero Miedo” bucket, Fears switching onto Julius Randle and outright guarding Anthony Edwards this past week was fun. 

7. Dylan Harper, Spurs

Harper’s return to the lineup comes with a minutes restriction to ease him back in, but it also comes with opportunity as the Spurs await the return of Victor Wembanyama. My favorite rookie fun fact is the Spurs are 9-1 this season when Harper plays 15 or more minutes (have to use it while I can).

Harper’s poise and composure continue to shine. If defenses give him space, he’s determined to take what’s given. As a patient driver and shifty ball-handler, he gets to his spots without needing to use outright speed. He also rejects in pick-and-roll to get defenses off-balance, employing a steady pace to survey the floor. Defenders are unsure if he’s looking to turn the corner or setting up to get a midrange shot. I’m intrigued to see how the in-between game grows and how he handles more teams looking to pressure him. 

8. Ryan Kalkbrenner, Hornets

As of this writing, Kalkbrenner is the only player in the NBA to have four or more blocks and four or more steals in a single game. His defense continues to stand out, as he’s showcasing a mix of communication and rim protection on a nightly basis.

Kalkbrenner has found his way as a screener, too, making sure to get contact and rolling to the rim. While he’s not the fastest roller, he knows how to put himself in position to get lobs or passes around the dunker spot. If he can continue to improve on both ends, the Hornets can’t help but be pleased with their young core. 

9. Ace Bailey, Jazz

Since entering the starting lineup, Bailey is shooting 52.6% from the field, 40.3% from 3 and showcasing the scoring ability many believed in coming into this season. The movement of the Jazz’s offense allows Bailey the opportunity to score in a more structured fashion. Wide pindowns let him get to his pull-up jump shot with ease.

Instead of the dribbles many imagined, there is a mix of pass-and-cut action to get him downhill.  Drive-and-kicks from others also open up cleaner 3-point looks. The more he can be involved in those types of quick actions, the better for Utah and Bailey’s overall growth. 

10. Ryan Nembhard, Mavericks

Nembhard is the first undrafted rookie in NBA history to score 25 points and have 10 or more assists with zero turnovers. He’s the first undrafted rookie with back-to-back 15+ point, 10-assist games. And his presence has helped to steady the ship for the Mavericks.

The rookie point guard consistently gets the ball where it needs to be, let’s the game come to him and does not force plays. He probes the defense while changing speeds, but his floor vision is what opens things up. If you show help, the ball is going to the open man.

Don’t let the playmaking fool you, either. The scoring mindset is there, and he’s found a comfort shooting versus drop defenses early. If you don’t believe me, find the film putting him side-by-side with Andrew Nembhard buckets. It’s uncanny and you won’t be able to unsee it.

LeBron James ended one of the most incredible streaks in sports on Thursday. With a pass.

For the first time since Jan. 5, 2007 — six days after James’ 22nd birthday — the Los Angeles Lakers star finished a game with fewer than 10 points scored. That was by far the longest streak in NBA history, with the next-closest being Michael Jordan at 866. 

Kevin Durant is the new active leader at 267 games, just over a fifth of the way there.

[Get more Lakers news: Los Angeles team feed]

James finished the game with eight points on a rough 4-of-17 shooting night against the Toronto Raptors. With the game tied at 120, he got one last chance with the ball when Austin Reaves passed to him in the final seconds, but he opted to kick the ball out to Rui Hachimura instead.

Hachimura made a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to give the Lakers a 123-120 win.

James’ explanation of the play:

“Just playing the game the right way. You always make the right play. That’s just been my MO. That’s how I was taught the game. I’ve done that my whole career. There’s not even once second-guessing that. Once they doubled AR and the ball got swung to me, I know it was a numbers game, we got a 4-on-3 advantage. I was just trying to put the ball on time, on target and Rui knocked it down.”

It was a historically off night for James, and the Lakers were also missing Luka Dončić, who missed the game for the birth of his second child. The Lakers primarily won because Reaves picked up the slack with 44 points on 13-of-21 shooting plus 11 assists and 5 rebounds. James also contributed 11 assists and 6 rebounds with no turnovers, so he contributed in other areas.

James’ double-digit scoring streak surpassed Jordan’s back in 2018 and has been playing out in the background ever since. It’s an accomplishment that reflects James’ talent, consistency and, importantly, health. All it would have taken was James tweaking an ankle in the first quarter for the streak to end, but he still managed to score a significant amount in every single game he played from season 5 to 22.

Put another way, there was an eight-year stretch in which James posted eight NBA Finals appearances and zero games of nine points or fewer.

How far back was Jan. 5, 2007? It’s a date that came about a month before Peyton Manning’s first Super Bowl title. Barry Bonds wasn’t MLB’s all-time home run leader yet. Stephen Curry was in his freshman year at Davidson. So was Tim Tebow at Florida. Novak Djokovic was more than a year away from his first Grand Slam title. Michael Phelps had only six Olympic gold medals. FC Barcelona had just won the Champions League after leaving a promising 19-year-old named Lionel Messi off its roster due to injury.

Apple announced the iPhone four days later. 

James is the NBA’s all-time scoring leader with 42,268 points, but his double-digit scoring record might be even harder to break.

The Golden State Warriors were on the verge of an improbable comeback win against the Philadelphia 76ers while down their top three players. Then VJ Edgecombe got involved.

Down 98-97 after blowing a lead that maxed out at 24 points, the Sixers rookie saved the game with a putback lay-up after catching a blocked fadeaway from Tyrese Maxey. The game wasn’t over, though, as Golden State quickly inbounded the ball with 0.9 seconds left and had DeAnthony Melton free on a breakaway.

Maxey recovered quickly enough to reach the paint and block a would-be buzzer-beater.

Edgecombe finished the game with 10 points on 4-of-8 shooting, plus 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 blocks and 5 turnovers. Maxey led all scorers, by far, with 35 points on 13-of-27 shooting.

The putback was another highlight in what has been a standout rookie season for Edgecombe. The third overall pick of the 2025 NBA Draft began his campaign with a record and still ranks fourth among rookies at 14.4 points per game. His 4.2 assists per game ranks first.

The Warriors entered the fourth quarter down 80-66. Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler were both out for the game, and Draymond Green joined them in the second quarter when he limped to the locker room with a foot injury. He was later ruled out for the rest of the game.

Green finished with three points on 1-of-3 shooting and three rebounds in nine minutes.

Without the three veterans they built their team around, the Warriors turned to Pat Spencer. And Buddy Hield. And Melton. And Quinten Post. And quite a few others. This is the second straight game the team nearly pulled off a shocking comeback after losing an All-Star, and that perhaps count for something with the team still in play-in territory with an 11-12 record.

The severity of Green’s injury is unknown. It’s quite possible the decision to rule him out was entirely precautionary with the team down 22 points at halftime, but it still underscores Golden State’s current struggles to stay healthy.

Curry missed his third straight game Thursday with a quad injury and is guaranteed to miss at least two more. Butler exited Wednesday’s game with a knee injury and was questionable for Thursday before being ruled out. The Warriors bet their 2025-26 season on the trio of Curry, Green and Butler, all of them 35 years or older. It might not be a surprise they’re now encountering injury issues.