Welcome back to Basketball Home, your ultimate
shortcut to being the most informed fan in the
arena. It is November 24th and well, if you thought
the season usually slows down before the holiday
rush, you were dead wrong. Oh, completely wrong.
The basketball world is spinning faster than
ever. It really is. We're spanning everything
from career announcements in the NBA to these.
revolutionary cash -fueled tournaments that are
defining the NCAA landscape. That's absolutely
right. We are hitting a really critical inflection
point right now. In college hoops, the major
multi -team tournaments, the NTEs, they're kicking
off. Right. Most notably, that massive... Players
Era Festival in Vegas, which we'll get into.
And for those who don't know, MTEs are basically
these early season events, you know, round robin
or bracketed, to give teams high major exposure
before conference play. And meanwhile, in the
NBA, you've got cornerstone players announcing
the end of their careers, major injury returns
about to shift the power balance, and that front
office trade machine is already running hot.
It is hunting. So our mission today is to break
down every critical nugget of information from
a legend's final bow to why a team like the Celtics
needs a simple non -shooting center to really
unlock their offense. We're covering career -defining
announcements. We'll analyze the collect performances
and surprising upsets from the weekend and really
get into the strategic and financial implications
driving both leagues. It's the intersection of
legacy, strategy, and just pure chaos. And some
pretty... serious off -court news we need to
address, too. We're here to sort it all out for
you. So let's start with a necessary moment of
respect for one of the greatest point guards
of all time and his final timeline. Yeah, we
have to. We have the stunning, though maybe anticipated,
news confirming Chris Paul's retirement timeline.
This isn't a rumor. Nope. The point guard, currently
with the Clippers, has announced he plans to
hang him up after the 2025 -26 season. That will
be his 21st year in the league. I mean, that
is... 21 years. That truly puts him in the rarest
of air. You're ranking alongside Dirk Nowitzki,
Vince Carter, that kind of longevity and commitment
at an elite level. The word legend, you know,
it gets thrown around too easily. But for Chris
Paul, it absolutely fits. Oh, for sure. We're
talking about a player whose strategic vision
fundamentally changed the geometry of the game
for multiple franchises. He wasn't just a stats
accumulator. He was a culture setter. Right.
Remember, he was the 2005 -06 Rookie of the Year.
And since then, 12 all -star selections spanning,
what, the Hornets, Clippers, Rockets, Thunder,
Suns, Warriors, Spurs. He elevated every single
team he played for. And his impact was felt on
both ends of the floor, too. He wasn't just this
offensive maestro dictating pace. He made the
all -defensive team nine times. Nine times. That
consistent two -way play. is what separates him
from so many other elite playmakers. And if you
look at the all -time statistical context, this
is where you really grasp his historical position.
I mean, especially when you consider the style
of basketball he played. Paul, at 40 years old,
ranked second in NBA history in both steals and
assists. Wow. To be second only to John Stockton,
a player whose career totals seemed untouchable
for decades, is just astonishing. It really is.
Six times he led the NBA in steals, five times
he led in assists. The statistical reliability
is... We're talking 16 .9 points, 9 .2 assists,
4 rebounds, and 2 steals across more than 1 ,300
games. And beyond the numbers, his signature
was that mid -range jumper and the ability to
just slow the game down. Yes. Forcing the defense
to play on his terms. That patient, calculated
style is becoming so much rarer in today's three
-point -focused NBA. It's a lost start. I always
appreciate hearing the reactions from his contemporaries.
And LeBron James, who has battled Paul for two
decades, had a really emotional take on this,
calling this year his last hurrah. It sounds
like LeBron really understands the weight of
this. He absolutely does, especially since LeBron
himself is setting new standards for age and
performance. LeBron emphasized that he just hopes
Paul finds complete joy in this final chapter.
He stressed that he shouldn't look back and regret
not taking advantage of every single moment.
He noted that Paul is happy being back in Los
Angeles, which clearly weighed heavily on his
decision. And LeBron concluded by saying Paul
has nothing to hang his head about. and has done
pretty much everything this league has to offer.
That's just a huge acknowledgement of their intertwined
careers and that mutual respect, especially given
their history as part of the Banana Boat crew.
Exactly. And speaking of that rivalry, here's
a piece of trivia that always surprises people.
Oh, I like this. Despite LeBron's overall dominance,
in the regular season, Chris Paul actually leads
the head -to -head record against James, 18 -17.
It's so close, but it just shows how competitive
those matchups were and their only playoff series
matchup. I remember it well. 2021. 2021. The
Phoenix Suns, led by Paul, beat LeBron's Lakers
4 -2. That's a testament to CP3's fierce competitiveness,
even in the twilight of his career. You can anticipate
some incredibly intense basketball in the final
four scheduled meetings between those two L .A.
rivals this season. Every one of those battles
will carry historic weight now. Okay, moving
from a career drawing to a close to a crucial
return. The Miami Heat are about to get a major
shot of adrenaline right as they are hitting
their stride. The Heat are already rolling. They're
sitting at 11 -6, riding a strong four -game
win streak. But the real news is the imminent
return of Tyler Hero. Sources are telling us
he is expected to make his 2025 -26 season debut
this Monday night against Dallas Mavericks, pending,
you know, any last -minute setbacks. And Hero's
been out since late September, had that ankle
surgery. The team's been fantastic without him,
already averaging nearly 125 points per game.
So here's my challenge for you. The Heat are
already kick -efficient, leading the league in
scoring. What risk is there in adding a high
usage player back into an already humming offense?
And why does Harrow uniquely accelerate them
further? That is a critical question, and it
speaks directly to Eric Spolstra's philosophy.
The risk is disruption. But the reward is immense
versatility and relief. The Heat are averaging
124 .9 points, shooting 48 .2%. Harrow doesn't
just fill a gap. He provides an elite shot creator
who can handle defensive pressure when Jimmy
Butler or Bam Adebayo are resting or facing double
teams. So he's not just a scorer, he's a pressure
valve. Exactly. You recall his 2024 -24 -25 All
-Star season averages? 23 .9 points, 5 .2 rebounds,
5 .5 assists. all while maintaining a stellar
56 .3 effective field goal percentage. That's
efficient. When Harrow returns, he takes significant
ball handling and playmaking duties away from
the secondary guards, allowing them to just focus
on defense and spot up shooting. It means the
Heat can generate high -quality offense with
their second unit, which is crucial in a long
playoff run. So his return signals that Miami
is moving from good start mode to contender lock
-in mode even before the All -Star break. That's
it. Okay. Speaking of missing star power, let's
pivot to a Western Conference surprise. The Houston
Rockets. The 10 -4 Rockets, who are performing
shockingly well. Way above expectations. Yes,
just one game shy of the West's second seed.
They are dealing with a short -term loss of Kevin
Durant. Yeah, Durant's going to miss two... Absolutely
key upcoming games to attend to a family matter,
which is certainly understandable, of course.
But strategically, the timing is rough. Monday,
they face his former team, the Phoenix Suns.
And Wednesday, they face his other former team,
the Golden State Warriors. Durant's impact in
Houston this season has been immediate and transformative.
He's averaging 24 .6 points, 4 .8 rebounds, 3
.3 assists. He provides that veteran shot creation
and stability that was really the last piece
of the puzzle for this talented but very young
core. So losing 25 points of isolation scoring
for two games against playoff caliber opponents
is brutal. Who steps up to fill that void? I
mean, especially given that Durant offers a level
of scoring gravity, no one else on that roster
can match. Well, the offensive load falls squarely
onto the shoulders of Alper and Sengun, but he
has to carry it differently. Durant provides
pure bucket getting. Sengun provides creation
through the post and passing. Sengun is having
an incredible season, averaging 22 .7 points,
10 boards, and 7 .3 assists. His playmaking from
the high or low post will be the Rockets' primary
offense. And who do you think takes Durant's
starting spot? In terms of replacing him in the
lineup, the most likely candidate is Reed Shepard,
the young guard from Kentucky who has just been
fantastic off the bench. He's a perimeter specialist.
Shepard's the perfect candidate to shift the
team's attack slightly, right? Yeah. Offering
that floor spacing. Exactly. He's coming off
a career high, 27 points against the Nuggets
recently. He's averaging 13 .6 points and 3 .1
assists in less than 24 minutes a game. And he's
an elite perimeter shooter, hitting 48 .8 % from
three. So without Durant, the team doesn't try
to find another ISO score. They just maximize
the gravity of Sangun in the post and surround
him with shooters. So if that's the strategic
approach, the predicted starting lineup without
Durant is probably Shepard at point, Eamon Thompson
at shooting guard, Jabari Smith Jr. at small
forward, Sangun at power forward, and maybe Steven
Adams at center. That lineup prioritizes floor
spacing and rebounding. It aims to run the offense
through the flow generated by Sangun. Jabari
Smith Jr. is also shooting well from deep, and
even Sangun is highly efficient from outside.
This will be a great early test for coach Ime
Udoka's young core to show Durant that they can
stabilize the team and find ways to win in his
absence. While the Lakers also survived a major
scare and an injury in their weekend action,
they beat the Utah Jazz 108 -106. That's their
second win over the Jazz this week, moving them
to an impressive 12 -4 overall. It was far from
a convincing victory, though, and we saw some
physiological trauma. Luka Doncic led the team
with 33 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 assists, nearly
hitting that triple -double. But he admitted
after the game that his legs felt tired after
a four -day break. Really? Yeah, it led to a
rough 10 -for -24 shooting night. He specifically
noted he was taking a lot of short shots, which
indicates his lift and explosiveness were just
lacking. That seems so counterintuitive. In theory,
four days off should revitalize a star, especially
this early in the season. Why would that lead
to fatigue? It's a classic case of disrupted
rhythm. When athletes are in peak game shape,
a sudden long break can actually tighten the
muscles and affect the neural pathways that dictate
explosiveness. Ah. Doncic has such a high usage
rate that his body is used to operating under
constant stress. Four days of relative rest can
sometimes lead to stiffness when they jump back
into competitive action. He thought the time
off would make things easier, but instead he
said it felt harder. And the whole team struggled,
right? Shooting just 44 % from the field and
a dismal 26 % from three. Yeah, they relied heavily
on Luka's output. And what about the other legend
on that Lakers roster, LeBron James? He's setting
an unprecedented standard just by being on the
court for his 23rd season. LeBron, at age 40,
played 34 minutes in that contest. And he was
brutally honest afterward. He said that this
past week specifically was kind of like my training
camp for me, to be honest. Wow. He missed the
first 14 regular season games while rehabbing
sciatica, so he never got the benefit of training
camp or a preseason ramp up. Calling the middle
of November his training camp is a remarkable
admission. What does that tell you about how
the Lakers are managing his workload moving forward?
It suggests two things. First, he is operating
under less than ideal physical circumstances,
which means Redick has to be strategic about
maximizing his limited availability. Second,
the Lakers likely view this entire first quarter
of the season as his gradual wrap up. The team
knows they need him healthy in May and June.
So even if they struggle slightly now, those
32, 34 minutes he's playing are building the
necessary physical foundation that he missed
in October. and he's been remarkably efficient
despite the lack of base conditioning. Incredibly,
dishing out 20 total assists against just three
turnovers in his two appearances since returning.
But the major concern from that win against Utah,
however, is the injury suffered by their center,
DeAndre Ayton. That's a potentially significant
frontcourt blow right before they play the Clippers.
Aiton suffered a right knee contusion in the
first half after colliding with Ace Bailey, and
that forced him out for the second half. Coach
J .J. Redick didn't speculate on the severity,
but he delivered the classic next man up message.
Aiton's having a really underappreciated start
to his Lakers tenure, isn't he? If he is ruled
out for any significant time, who steps into
that center rotation and how does that change
the team's defensive structure? He is incredibly
underappreciated. Ayton, who signed that two
-year $16 million deal this offseason, is averaging
15 .5 points and 8 .4 rebounds. He's already
put up four 20 -10 games, matching his total
from all of last year. His health is crucial.
So who's next up? If he's out, Redick feels confident
in his options, mainly Jackson Hayes and Maxi
Kleber. And this is where the strategic choice
comes in. Hayes is purely a rim runner, preferring
the dunker spot, providing verticality, which
might work well with Doncic's passing. Kleber
offers floor spacing with his three -point shooting,
which pulls the opposing center out of the paint,
benefiting LeBron and Doncic's driving lanes.
So the choice between them really dictates whether
the Lakers prioritize rim protection with Hayes
or floor spacing with Kleber. Exactly. Okay,
let's quickly wrap up a couple of other key NBA
weekend results, starting with the Phoenix Suns.
Phoenix secured their third straight victory,
beating the San Antonio Spurs 111 -102. What's
noteworthy here is that Phoenix overcame an 11
-point deficit in the second quarter by absolutely
locking down defensively and unleashing a dominant
37 -24 third quarter run. And Devin Booker just
took over in that third quarter. He did, with
11 points in that period alone. And Dylan Brooks,
an offseason acquisition, is really stepping
up as a key secondary scorer, too. Brooks led
Phoenix with 25 points. Booker's added 24. And
they needed every one of those points because
the Spurs were severely undermanned. Victor Wambanyama
is still out with that left calf strain, expected
to miss at least another week. They were also,
without starting forward, Stephon Castle and
the rookie second overall pick Dylan Harper.
Also due to a left calf strain. So even though
the Suns were missing key players themselves,
Jalen Green, Grayson Allen, and Ryan Dunn, they
managed to rally and win. That shows their improved
mental toughness under Frank Vogel. It does.
Over the Northwest, the Oklahoma City Thunder.
continue their absolute dominance. They delivered
a decisive steertment, blowing out the Portland
Trailblazers 122 -95. And this win served as
sweet revenge for the Thunder, as Portland was
responsible for their only loss of the season
back on November 5th. So now OKC is 17 -1, best
record in the NBA. And they're doing it with
consistency. Reigning MVP Shai Gilgis -Alexander
was just unstoppable. But what was the key difference
in his approach this time? He set the tone early.
He focused heavily on attacking the paint, not
settling for jumpers. Eight of his 10 first half
field goals came inside the arc and he finished
with 37 points in just 30 minutes. Wow. The Thunder
absolutely owned the paint, racking up 58 points
there. Conversely, the Blazers struggled terribly,
shooting a season -worst 36 .3 % overall and
12 for 47 from three. Jeremy Grant led Portland
with 21, but the lack of perimeter threat just
allowed the Thunder to clog the paint and force
tough shots. And finally... We saw a tight battle
in the Southeast Division between the Hawks and
the Hornets that required some clutch heroics.
The Atlanta Hawks just edged out a shorthanded
Charlotte Hornets team, 113 -110, thanks to a
huge night from Nikael Alexander -Walker. He
scored 23 points, but his clutch performance
was what sealed it. Right. He hit the game -winning
layup with under two minutes left. Made it 111
-110, and then he stripped rookie con Muppet
of the ball with only six seconds remaining to
preserve the victory. That's just pure defensive
execution in a high -pressure moment. It's a
great individual effort, but the sustained story
here for the Hawks might be the continued descent
of Jalen Johnson. Oh, absolutely. Johnson had
28 points, 11 assists, and 8 rebounds, which
is truly remarkable, especially for a player
who was once viewed primarily as just a rebounder.
And that performance means he has now tallied
15 -plus points, 5 -plus rebounds, and 5 -plus
assists in 8 consecutive games. 8 straight. And
that breaks a franchise record set way back in
1965 by the late Lenny Wilkins. The fact that
he's surpassing a record held by a Hall of Famer
like Wilkins speaks to his emergence as a true
point forward in the modern NBA. And the Hornets,
despite missing six key players, including Lavella
Ball and Brandon Miller, still pushed Atlanta
to the absolute limit. They did, thanks largely
to rookie Kun Muppel, who had a standout night
for them, scoring 28 points, including seven
three -pointers. He even hit a four -point play
late to give Charlotte a temporary lead. A gutsy
effort from a depleted squad, but ultimately,
Alexander Walker's veteran defense just shut
the door. It did. Okay, let's unpack this shift
in the league. We've seen the games. Now let's
talk strategy and the intricate financial maneuvers
that define championship contention. The trade
rumors are starting to heat up. They always do
around this time. Especially for contending teams
looking to solidify one position, like the Boston
Celtics at center. The Celtics have managed their
center rotation through, you know, effort and
committee. Yemias Cueta, Luka Garza, Chris Boucher,
and Xavier Tillman are giving them dependable
minutes. But the rotation still feels like a
strong bench unit rather than a true starting
anchor. More importantly, with Jason Tatum returning
from that Achilles surgery, the Celtics need
specific stability at the five to manage Tatum's
minutes and maximize his impact when he is on
the floor. So the Celtics are looking for stability
and clarity at the five, and the name coming
up repeatedly is Daniel Gafford of the Mavericks.
Why is he such a clean fit for Boston's system,
which often requires floor spacing? Well, Gafford
is a fit precisely because of what he doesn't
do. Oh, interesting. He doesn't demand the ball,
and he doesn't compromise the structure built
around Tatum and Jalen Brown. Boston's identity
is defined by guard play, spacing, movement,
and defense. They do not need a high -usage big
man who steps outside the arc. So he just brings
clarity. Gafford is the definition of clarity.
He protects the rim, runs hard in transition,
screens effectively, and that's crucial, setting
solid screens to free up brown and white, and
he finishes lobs at an elite rate. He keeps the
game simple for them, allowing their primary
creators to operate without traffic. And we know
he has playoff experience, averaged 12 .4 points
and 6 .3 rebounds in 22 minutes last season,
even started 22 playoff games during Dallas'
2024 Finals run. Exactly. He is reliable. A potential
starting five of Peyton Pritchard, White, Brown,
Tatum and Gafford is simple, balanced and predictable.
Gafford doesn't need plays run for him. He just
provides the stability necessary for Joe Missoula
to maintain defensive structure and for the guards
to operate. He's the classic high IQ, low maintenance,
big man. OK, now let's tackle the financial side,
because this is where the sophistication of the
trade comes in. The proposed three team deal
involving Dallas and Brooklyn addresses Boston's
tricky financial situation near the salary apron.
Can you explain the salary apron and why this
trade is so clever in navigating it? So the salary
apron is the hard cap threshold set significantly
above the luxury tax line. Once a team crosses
the apron, they lose access to several critical
roster building tools, like the mid -level exception
and the ability to take back more salary in trades.
And the Celtics are right up against that. They're
operating very close to that limit. The financial
centerpiece for Boston to shed is on Farnese
Simons. He's a talented, productive player on
a valuable expiring contract. But the Celtics'
financial reality makes it almost impossible
to retain him long term without blowing past
the apron and handcuffing their future flexibility.
So they use Simons, whom they can't afford to
keep, to acquire Gafford, whom they can keep
long term on a manageable contract. Plus, they
gain something massive in the process. Precisely.
In the proposed framework, Boston sends Simons
to Dallas, receives Gafford, and they are left
with a massive $27 .7 million trade exception
derived from Simons' salary. Which is basically
a coupon. It's a coupon the team can use later
to acquire players via trade without having to
send matching salary back. It's a future spending
power they bank today by offloading Simons' contract.
That's a classic contender move, prioritizing
the... Right kind of solution for this stage
of the window. Stability and flexibility over
retaining a productive player they couldn't afford
anyway. It's stability over upside swings. Gafford
stabilizes the middle without compromising the
ceiling, and that massive trade exception provides
insurance and flexibility for the next year or
two, allowing them to acquire another piece if
needed without breaking the bank. Okay, shifting
to another high -profile Eastern Conference team
searching for an immediate upgrade, the New York
Knicks. They are reportedly eyeing a massive...
franchise -altering trade target in Anthony Davis
of the Mavericks. The Knicks, sitting at 9 -6,
have looked ordinary. They've struggled with
consistency. They are 18th in the league in defensive
rating at 114 .8. This is a team that wants to
win a title this season, according to reports,
and they view a move for an established superstar
as necessary to close the gap on Boston and Milwaukee.
And Davis, when he's healthy, provides immediate
two -way dominance and is a championship caliber
anchor. Before his injury this season, he was
averaging 20 .8 points, 10 .2 rebounds, 1 .6
steals, and 1 .2 blocks on 52 % shooting. He
radically transforms the Knicks' defensive ceiling,
which is exactly what they need. What's fascinating
here is the report that Dallas is rumored to
be considering a foundational shift, perhaps
even a rebuild around Kyrie Irving and young
talent like Cooper Flagg, which would make Davis
potentially available at what is termed a below
market cost. If Dallas is even thinking about
offering Davis, the Knicks have to pick up the
moan. Immediately. OK, so there are two potential
trade packages being floated. The first is a
straight up high salary swap that might be the
cleanest path financially. That's the Anthony
Davis for Carl Anthony Towns swap. Davis at $54
.1 million for Towns at $53 .1 million. Their
massive contracts basically offset, making it
clean under the salary cap. The Knicks would
likely view this as a chance to offload Towns,
especially considering his defensive shortcomings
in Thibodeau's system, for a more reliable championship
-experienced anchor in Davis. And for Dallas.
It provides a different kind of offensive centerpiece
if they decide to move on from Davis' injury
history. The second proposal, however, is the
Rebuild Package, designed to align with Dallas'
potential long -term goals, and it would cost
the Knicks dearly in terms of their depth. This
package is OG Anunobi, Mitchell Robinson, Tyler
Kolek, and a 2026 Top 8 protected first -round
pick in exchange for Davis. This one favors Dallas
significantly. It offers Anunobi for wing depth,
Robinson as a solid defensive big, Kolek as a
backup point guard, and a future first -round
pick. high quality depth and a future asset.
But for the Knicks, this is a major dilemma.
They value Anunabi and Robinson highly for their
current defensive identity. And Davis's persistent
injury history makes paying that premium price
for him controversial, even if he delivers a
title. It does. So how does a move for AD shift
the perception of the Knicks' competitive window
against the Celtics and Bucs? It accelerates
it immensely but introduces high variance. Trading
a Noonerby and Robinson gives up the defensive
DNA of the current roster. If Davis stays healthy,
the Knicks immediately become a true title threat,
capable of beating anyone in a seven -game series
thanks to his defensive presence alongside Jalen
Brunson. But if he gets injured? They've sacrificed
their depth and defense for nothing. This raises
a huge question for New York. How much future
depth and defense are you willing to sacrifice
for the high -risk, high -reward proposition
of... of a star like Davis who has proven he
can win but is often unavailable. It's a move
that defines championship ambition versus roster
stability. That's the defining strategic choice
facing their front office right now. It is. Speaking
of roster stability, let's look at the Detroit
Pistons. They are dealing with their own trade
rumors centered around Tobias Harris, but for
very different reasons. They seem to be prioritizing
chemistry over asset management. Tobias Harris
is the Pistons' second highest paid player, and
his contract is expiring this season. Standard
league practice dictates that expiring contracts
are highly valuable for salary matching in any
blockbuster trade to acquire a star. So most
mock trades assume Harris must be moved. Right.
Otherwise, the Pistons lose a massive asset for
nothing in free agency. Exactly. But the Pistons'
front office seems hesitant, despite the ability
to potentially acquire a star without losing
Harris for nothing. So what's the counterpoint?
Why is that internal chemistry so valuable right
now? The counterpoint is chemistry, continuity,
and internal trust, especially for a young team
that is experiencing early success. Aris was
brought in specifically to be a reliable veteran
presence. He's a guy who can get a bucket and
play solid defense, but crucially, he has the
ear of the young core Cunningham, Thompson, Duren,
and Ivy without acting like a drill sergeant.
Or taking away their opportunities for growth.
Yes, he offers consistent professionalism. So
Trajan Langdon, the front office leader, values
the structure and stability Harris provides more
than the theoretical star they could acquire.
Absolutely. They believe the team is humming
right now, playing well and developing cohesion,
and they don't want to disrupt that internal
rhythm just to chase a big name. The priority
is seeing how far the current core can grow internally.
The best case scenario is that one of those young
guys, Thompson, Duren, or Ivy, develops into
the secondary star they need, avoiding the cost
of a trade. And they're looking at the defending
champion Thunder as an example of that internal
growth success. Exactly. There is a strong belief
that Harris could finish the season and maybe
even his career in Detroit, provided the team
continues its upward trajectory. That's a profound
contrast to the Knicks' desperation. It really
frames the different timelines teams operate
on. OK, let's switch gears dramatically and move
to the NCAA, where the Players' Era Festival
is completely reshaping the early season calendar
and the economics of college basketball. This
is a revolutionary event in college basketball,
and we really need to understand why. It's expanding
in 2025 to feature 18 men's teams and four women's
teams, taking place across the MGM Grand Garden
Arena and the Michelob Ultray Arena in Las Vegas.
This isn't just an MTE. No. It's a financial
powerhouse disguised as a tournament. And beyond
the competitive schedule, what makes this event
truly revolutionary is the name, image, and likeness
factor. We need to be clear about how this NIL
money is structured. It is entirely NIL -driven,
and it fundamentally changes recruiting. The
participating teams are guaranteed to receive
at least a total of $1 million worth of NIL opportunities
and activities. This money is not paid to the
coach or the school. It goes directly to the
players through collective activities. And the
structure itself rewards performance. It does.
Teams that finish two WIO after the first two
days qualify for the championship and third place
games and have opportunities for more money from
an additional pool of about $2 million. So winning
literally pays more for the athletes. Yeah. How
is this financial compensation structure? What
are these activities? The activities are mainly
filming, posting, and content creation for corporate
brands and sponsors, both on -site in Vegas and
after the fact, similar to any professional influencer
contract. And the key mechanism here is the value
dictated by the athlete's influence. For example,
Michigan's starting point guard, Elliot Cadeau,
has 255 ,000 Instagram followers. His guaranteed
compensation from this event will be exponentially
higher than a teammate like Yaxel Lendeborg,
who might have a fraction of that reach. So the
popularity and influence of the athlete dictates
the value of the compensation, much like how
celebrities are paid for endorsements. That's
it. This is effectively the financial opening
of the college basketball season, integrated
right into the competitive structure. And Michigan,
under coach Dusty May, is a huge example of a
traditional institution buying into this new
model, right? Yes. Michigan signed on after seeing
the success of last year's event, which was won
by Oregon. And crucially, Michigan's assistant
coach noted that they factored this guaranteed
NIL payout into the total program offerings for
their players before the season started. So it's
not a bonus. It's part of their standard compensation
package for the season. Exactly. This guaranteed
pool of money makes it a highly attractive destination
for top recruits. Let's run down the men's schedule
highlights, starting today. Monday, November
24th, because this is an absolute gauntlet of
top teams all aiming for that championship prize
pool. Today's games are crucial because they
determine the bracket for Wednesday and Thursday.
We have Tennessee versus Rutgers at 1 p .m.,
then Kansas versus Notre Dame at 3 .30. Later,
Houston versus Syracuse at 6 p .m., followed
by a massive game, Oregon versus Auburn at 8
p .m. which is a rematch of last year's thrilling
Sweet 16. It is. The schedule goes late, with
Alabama vs. Gonzaga at 9 -3 -D and Michigan vs.
San Diego State at 10 -30 p .m. ET. These are
high -stakes early -season elimination games
where only the 2 -0 teams move on to the championship
tier. And Tuesday continues the stack matchups,
giving us a clearer picture of who is contending
for that championship game on Wednesday night.
Tuesday features Rutgers versus Notre Dame at
1 p .m. and a significant matchup at 3 .30 with
Kansas versus Syracuse. And it's important to
note Kansas will be without Darren Peterson for
all three games due to lingering hamstring issues.
With Bryson Tiller continuing to play. At 6 p
.m., it's Houston versus Tennessee, a potential
high -level defensive battle, and later Michigan
versus Auburn at 8 .30 p .m. The championship
game is Wednesday at 9 .30 p .m. ET on TNT. We
also need to highlight the Women's Players Era
Festival, which is equally loaded with talent
and immediately provides title clarity. Absolutely.
The women's bracket features three of the four
teams from the 2024 Women's Final Four, so the
competition is fierce. Wow. The semifinal matchups
are set for Wednesday, November 26th. Texas versus
UCLA at 2 p .m. and Duke versus South Carolina
at 4 .30. And the winners move on to play for
the title on Thanksgiving Day. Correct. The championship
and third place games are set for Thursday, November
27th. These matchups are crucial for national
seating and setting the tone for the entire women's
season. OK, speaking of early season chaos, let's
recap the dramatic college basketball action
from the weekend, starting with the triple overtime
thriller. From high -stakes NIL tournaments,
we transitioned to sheer athletic endurance.
This was a grueling 55 -minute struggle. The
USC Trojans barely escaped the Troy Trojans,
winning 107 -106 in triple overtime. And USC,
who were 4 -0 and coming in after three consecutive
20 -plus point victories, was stunned by the
tenacity of Troy. especially on the glass. Yeah,
the game was won by junior guard Jordan Marsh
on a contested last -second three -pointer. That
kind of marathon game must have been defined
by some unusual metrics. Chaos was the metric.
There were 19 lead changes, and five players
ended up selling out. Despite USC winning, Troy
utterly dominated the rebounding battle. They
out -rebounded USC by 24 and collected a staggering
25 offensive rebounds. 25 offensive boards. That
shows how tenacious Troy was, using second and
third chances to negate USC's talent advantage.
It does. So who delivered the standout individual
performances in that high -pressure environment?
For USC, graduate guard Chad Baker -Mazzara scored
a career -high 34 points, along with nine rebounds
and five blocks. He's already set a new career
scoring high twice in USC's first four games,
so he's really emerging. And on Troy's side.
Cooper Campbell was phenomenal, dropped 32 points,
which included six three -pointers and a contested
fadeaway shot from beyond the arc that forced
the first overtime period. Incredible. That resilience
is what kept the game going for three extra periods.
For sure. From the chaos of triple overtime,
let's transition to the success story defined
by sheer discipline and rebounding. Butler. Butler
secured the de facto championship of the Greenbrier
tip -off, defeating a strong Virginia team 80
-73. Both teams moved to 5 -1 on the season.
Butler jumped out early with a 13 -3 run, showing
their offensive flow, but Virginia, known for
their grinded -out defense, fought back to tie
it before Butler took a slim lead into the half.
Their key to victory involved beating Virginia
at their own strength, rebounding margin. That
is incredibly difficult to do against a top -tier
program like Virginia. That's what's fascinating
here. Both Butler and Virginia entered the game
ranked in the top 10 nationally in rebounding
margin, showing they prioritized the glass. Yet
Butler still managed to hold a 43 -39 rebounding
edge over Virginia. And Butler has now out -rebounded
all six of their opponents this season. Right.
That consistency proves they are a physical force.
Finley Bizjack led the scoring charge for them.
Bizjack put up 25 points on 9 -for -18 shooting,
but the other star was graduate student Michael
Ajayi, who recorded his sixth consecutive double
-double to open the season. He had 17 points
and 14 rebounds, plus three blocks. Wow. And
Virginia was led by Malik Thomas' 24 points.
This win proves that Butler is a genuine threat
early in the season, showcasing both offensive
firepower and that relentless physicality. Definitely.
We had another overtime affair in the Charleston
Classic, ending in heartbreak for Boston College.
BC fell 93 -90 in overtime to Tulane in the third
place game, dropping them to 3 -4. They had a
late surge. Boden Kapke hit a deep three -pointer
to force the extra period, showing great poise,
but they just ran out of magic in overtime. And
before the game even started, there was some
internal drama that added pressure to the team.
That was the situation surrounding Jason Asimoda,
who did not play due to an internal issue. Coach
Earl Grant refused to elaborate on the situation
postgame, only confirming it wasn't an injury
and that a decision on Asimoda's return would
be made within a day or two. That kind of off
-court distraction always impacts team focus.
Despite the loss, a couple of BC guards really
stepped up in that game. Donald Hand Jr. led
the team with 26 points, but the true standout
performance came from transfer guard Chase Forte.
He had his best game as an Eagle with 22 points
on highly efficient 7 -for -11 shooting, including
5 -for -8 from deep. He provided the necessary
perimeter punch to keep them in the game, but
unfortunately in overtime, Kapke's final three
-point attempt to tie the game just rang out.
Sealing the loss. Tough break. Turning to women's
basketball, we saw absolute dominance from a
few major programs over the weekend, starting
with the perennial powerhouse, South Carolina.
The number two Gamecocks, now 6 -0, absolutely
demolished Queens 121 -49. This performance set
a program record for the most points scored under
coach Dawn Staley and was their third most points
scored all time. That kind of offensive explosion
shows the depth of talent Staley has assembled.
And this followed the return of a key player
who had been absent, Maddie McDaniel. Yes, Maddie
McDaniel returned after missing four games due
to injury and suspension. Guard Raven Johnson
specifically noted that having McDaniel back
brought another energy to the team. You could
feel her presence wasn't there when she was out.
And the team fell whole again. Evidenced by every
starter finishing in double figures. Joyce Edwards
led the charge with 25 points, and they are immediately
tested as they head to Vegas for the Players'
Era Festival to face Duke, and then potentially
Texas or UCLA. We also saw impressive offensive
explosions from Illinois. Illinois delivered
a statement win on the road, routing Florida
State 86 -63. They were incredibly efficient,
shooting 50 % from the field and a blistering
53 % from three -point range. Gretchen Dolan
was the offensive catalyst. exploded for 25 points.
They also generated 22 points off Florida State's
15 turnovers, showcasing a thorough road domination
that elevates their profile significantly. And
finally... The Oregon Ducks also remain unbeaten.
The note, 25 Ducks improved to 6 -0 by dominating
Utah State 70 -34. The game was relatively close
at halftime, with Oregon only leading 32 -20.
But the Ducks went on a decisive 16 -2 run to
start the third quarter, turning the contest
into a rout by outscoring Utah State 23 -6 in
that period. That third quarter push shows their
ability to adjust and intensify defensive effort
after the break. Okay, moving away from the current
court results, let's look ahead to future talent
and some serious off -court stories impacting
the league. Let's start with recruiting in the
class of 2027. We're spotlighting four -star
wing Dylan Jones, ranked No. 65 overall in the
2027 national class. He recently completed an
unofficial visit to Tennessee, and he really
values their defensive culture. He's also seriously
considering Alabama, Memphis, and Ole Miss. It's
interesting to see defensive identity being the
key factor drawing a highly ranked wing player.
That reflects the priorities of the top programs
and modern player development. It does. Jones
noted that he values a coach who can push him
defensively, which is precisely what Rick Barnes
and the Tennessee staff are known for. That reputation
for defensive pride is clearly resonating with
top young talent like Jones, who understands
that two -way capability is essential for the
NBA level. OK, now for the very serious off -court
news impacting the NBA. Portland Trailblazers
coach Chauncey Billups is facing charges related
to fraud and money laundering conspiracy. This
is a complex case involving organized crime and
high -tech cheating. This is a complex and highly
serious criminal case that underscores the vulnerability
of the entire professional sports ecosystem.
Billups, who is currently suspended by the Blazers,
is due in Brooklyn Federal Court Monday to enter
a plea. He is one of 31 defendants charged in
this sweeping case. What are the specific allegations
against him and others, particularly regarding
the high -tech cheating? Prosecutors allege that
Billups was involved in a scheme dating back
to 2019 that used the star power of pro athletes
to lure victors into rigged illicit poker games.
The conspiracy allegedly defrauded victims of
at least $7 million using highly sophisticated
high -tech equipment. And this wasn't simple
card counting. Not at all. They utilized devices
like X -ray card tables, which allowed cheaters
to see the opponent's cards hidden beneath the
surface, and altered shuffling machines to ensure
favorable outcomes. That level of sophistication
suggests a major organized operation. It does.
Former Cleveland Cavaliers guard Demon Jones
was also charged in the poker scheme, alongside
alleged members of New York's La Cosa Nostra
organized crime families, which really highlights
the organized nature of the operation. All of
them have pleaded not guilty. And this investigation
led to a related and arguably more worrying case
involving current NBA players, didn't it? It
did. A related case charged Jones and current
Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier with a separate
scheme. rigging bets on NBA games between 2022
and 2024 using insider knowledge. While the specifics
of their involvement are under wraps, the allegation
is that they leveraged non -public team or personal
information to gain an advantage in betting.
Both Jones and Rozier have also pleaded not guilty
in that case. The combination of organized crime,
high -tech financial fraud, and insider betting
allegations creates a massive integrity crisis
for the league, regardless of the ultimate verdict.
Indeed. It introduces a challenging element of
external scrutiny that affects players and coaches
and reminds us of the high stakes environment
surrounding legal sports betting. We will continue
to monitor this closely as the legal proceedings
move forward because the implications for the
league's integrity are immense. As we wrap up
this massive update, let's look at the immediate
schedule that awaits us this week. We have the
Players' Era Festival bracket finalizing over
the next few days in Vegas and a stacked NBA
slate tonight and tomorrow. Tonight, we see the
Rockets, without Kevin Durant, trying to hold
off the Phoenix Suns in a classic old team versus
new team battle. Tomorrow, the Miami Heat get
Tyler Harrell back against the Dallas Mavericks.
And we have the high stakes Los Angeles rivalry,
Lakers versus Clippers. The strategic outcomes
of those games will determine the narrative for
the rest of the week. For sure. You know, looking
at everything we've covered today, from Chris
Paul's retirement confirming the close of one
era to LeBron James pushing his body through
an unprecedented 23rd season and front offices
wrestling with these huge trade strategies, it
feels like the league is at a crossroads. That's
the central theme here. We're seeing the intersection
of the old legends and this new era defined by
massive NIL -fueled college tournaments. But
the biggest decision defining the league right
now, however, is strategic. How much is internal
chemistry, continuity, and veteran leadership,
which the Pistons are valuing highly with Tobias
Harrisworth, when balanced against the pursuit
of a surefire established star like Anthony Davis,
who the Knicks are rumored to be considering
at a premium cost? That balance between internal
growth and high risk, immediate external acquisition,
is the central dilemma facing nearly every contending
and aspirational team right now. It dictates
the future of their franchises, forcing them
to bet either on the certainty of star power
or the potential of cohesion. It forces you to
ask, are the championships won solely by stars
or are they won by the right combination of high
-level chemistry and defined roles? And for you,
the listener, how would you manage the risk of
trading away future assets for a superstar with
a known injury history if it meant an immediate
shot at a title? Absolutely. Thank you for joining
us for this in -depth look into all things basketball.
We'll catch you next time here on basketball
home.