Welcome back to Basketball Home, your essential
weekly guide to understanding the biggest stories
shaping the league today. We're covering everything
from the incredible drama unfolding on the NBA
hardwood all the way down to the foundational
talent brewing in the college game. Yeah, we
have an incredibly dense slate today. We really
do. We're talking high stakes, off the court
drama in Dallas, the intensifying race for the
NBA Cup, and then we'll take a detailed look
at the future of the league. The 2026 mock draft
class is already starting to generate some serious
buzz. It really is. And you can't ignore what's
happening in Detroit. Oh, absolutely not. The
Pistons are on fire. A 13 -game winning streak.
That ties a franchise record. Just unbelievable
momentum. And that sets up a truly fascinating
weekend of cup play, which will break down group
by group. We're going to give you that shortcut
to being fully informed on the entire basketball
ecosystem. But first, let's start with maybe
the most anticipated individual return of the
season. It has to be. It's tied to power, to
legacy, and crucially, a trade that really did
change two franchises forever. Anthony Davis
facing the Lakers. So Anthony Davis has been
sidelined for 14 games. He's been recovering
from what the team called a standard cat strain.
Right. And Coach Jason Kidd. confirmed he looked
strong after a full practice this past Wednesday.
But the decision on his return date, it's been
anything but simple. Simple is the last word
I would use. I mean, the fact is Davis himself
basically gave the front office an ultimatum.
He really did. When reporters asked him, you
know, do you want to return Friday against the
Lakers or Saturday against the Clippers? He was
so plain about it. Zero ambiguity. He just said,
you know what game I want to play. Exactly. That's
unmistakable intent. And it puts immense pressure
on a franchise that's already been walking on
eggshells around his health. And that intent,
it just brought all this internal conflict right
to the surface in Dallas. It really did. What's
fascinating here is how the injury saga has just
exposed the front office's internal struggles.
And this is all happening while the Lakers have
surged with Luka in Davis's absence. Which really
proves that trade was far more beneficial for
L .A. than a lot of people initially projected.
But the real drama is the power struggle that
happened just before this return. According to
reports, Davis had an earlier push to get back
on the court. But team governor Patrick Dumont
directly blocked it. He stepped in. And that
move defied both Davis's wishes and those of
the former GM, Nico Harrison, who apparently
believed Davis was medically ready to go. So
we should probably dive into the medical side
of this because that's what fueled Dumont's anxiety.
Yeah, a calf strain, especially for a player
with Davis's history of lower body issues. It's
not just a standard muscle pull. It's intimately
connected to the Achilles tendon. And medical
professionals always warn that if you rush a
calf strain back before it's at full strength,
you significantly increase the risk of a catastrophic
season -ending Achilles tear. And that's exactly
what Dumont was told. He consulted the director
of health and performance who gave him that exact
stark warning. So he's facing the ultimate risk
management scenario. Right. And Dumont, who has
been relatively hands -off in basketball operations
since taking over. He steps in and he prioritizes
the long term health of their most valuable and
let's be honest, their most fragile asset. And
the consequence of that intervention was immediate.
Yeah. And it was severe. Nico Harrison was fired
three days later. That's the key part. This is
critical to understanding the hierarchy in Dallas
now. It's the first time Dumont has directly
intervened in basketball operations at this level.
Harrison had been lobbying for Davis's return,
and his dismissal signals that Dumont is willing
to defy both his GM and his star player to protect
the franchise's future. It just reveals how fragile
Dallas's future really is with Davis, given his
health history. And it shows that the franchise
is now entirely run from the top down by ownership.
Health is the absolute priority over short -term
success or even player happiness. It sets the
stage perfectly. That Friday game against the
Lakers is now a must -see moment. Oh, absolutely.
And not just for the basketball. Davis facing
the team that shipped him out for Luka Doncic.
It's a true collision of two franchise universes.
It's a definitive benchmark for both organizations.
The stakes could not be higher. Speaking of high
stakes. We should pivot to the East. Yeah, injuries
are forcing teams with serious championship aspirations
to get creative, starting with the Celtics. They're
facing Detroit tonight, and they'll be without
their starting center, Nemeas Cueta. Yeah, that's
a sprained left ankle he suffered Sunday against
the Magic. And Cueta's absence is far more than
just a missing body in the rotation. He's been
one of the biggest... Most pleasant surprises
in their 9 -8 start. He's averaging career highs,
right? 9 .3 points and 7 .9 boards. But the real
deep impact is in those advanced on -off numbers.
It's staggering. Okay, so let's break those numbers
down for you because they are. The sources say
the Celtics allow 25 .7 fewer points per 100
possessions when Cueta is on the court. What
does a plus 17 net rating in 17 games actually
mean for a team? It means total domination when
he's playing. The net rating, that's the difference
between a team's offensive and defensive rating.
It's the single best indicator of player impact.
And plus 17 is? It's elite. It's bordering on
MVP level production in terms of making your
team dramatically better. Allowing 25 .7 fewer
points per 100 possessions means that when Queda
is sitting, the Celtics defense just... It cracks.
So he's the anchor. He's the crucial anchor.
He's cleaning up mistakes, controlling the paint,
and allowing their perimeter defenders to take
bigger risks. Losing that kind of interior impact
against a hot Detroit team is... Well, it's disastrous.
Absolutely. It forces Boston into a committee
approach. You're talking Xavier Tillman, Chris
Boucher, Luka Garza. And they're even calling
up the rookie two -way center Amari Williams
from Maine. And they're facing Detroit's strong
frontcourt led by Jalen Duran, who will absolutely
feast if Boston can't match that physicality.
This isn't just a physical test. It's a philosophical
test of Boston's depth right now. Then you look
north to the Raptors. They are absolutely scorching
hot. League best eight -game winning streak.
13 -5 record. But they just got a major scare
with R .J. Barrett. Yeah, that knee sprain. Thankfully,
it wasn't a major blow. He'll be reevaluated
in one week. But the panic was totally understandable.
Oh, for sure. The injury happened without contact,
which is the immediate signal for serious ligament
damage. The collective sigh of relief across
the league was palpable when the real diagnosis
came in. Dodging that disaster is huge, especially
since Barrett's been playing maybe the best basketball
of his career. He's averaging almost 20 points,
shooting over 50 % from the field. That's incredibly
efficient for a wing. So Coach Darko Radjikovic
is approaching this absence with... That classic
coach's mindset, right? Turn adversity into a
chance to test your bench. Exactly. Deep in the
roster, he's plugging Jacoby Walter into the
starting spot. This forces guys who might usually
only play 10 minutes to perform heavy minutes
during a winning streak, which can pay huge dividends
later in the season. Let's move to the West.
We've got two situations wrapped in mystery and
frustration. Both show that delicate balance
between injury management and team transparency.
Starting with Jonathan Kaminga of the Warriors.
He's missed six straight games with bilateral
knee tendonitis. And the whole situation has
been bizarre because of the lack of communication.
It frankly sounds like an internal rift. It really
does. Initially, Coach Steve Kerr, when he was
asked about Kaminga's status, he told reporters,
I have no idea what he is doing. He even suggested
they ask Kaminga directly. And then Kaminga declined
to comment. That level of public miscommunication,
it just signals major trouble in the relationship
between the player, the coach, and the training
staff. So what's so intriguing is what's really
going on. Is it frustration over playing time
manifesting as a mysterious injury? Or is Kerr
trying to force Kuminga to be more accountable?
Well, Kerr was initially quoted saying Kuminga
was not moving well and that they needed to figure
it out. If there's no structural damage, which
the MRI confirmed, then the problem is either
psychological or related to pain tolerance and
recovery. Which is a massive internal problem
for a team trying to stay in the title conversation.
Thankfully, there was a more positive update
recently. It suggests the internal strife might
be resolving. Kuminga completed three -on -three
work. He participated in practice and is scheduled
for a five -on -five scrimmage. And that scrimmage
is typically the final hurdle before a player
is cleared to return to game action. It suggests
his return is imminent and the team's ready to
move past all the public drama. OK, let's move
to Memphis. Rookie center Zach Eadie's early
production just hit a wall after suffering a
head injury against Denver. Yeah, he's questionable
for Wednesday's game against the Pelicans due
to a migraine. And that's an issue he's dealt
with previously. He missed two games last season
with similar symptoms. Eadie's early impact was
substantial, though, especially after returning
from ankle surgery. He was posting, what, 12
.3 points, 9 .3 rebounds, and two blocks over
four games. He had provided that interior presence
Memphis desperately lacked. The team is already
struggling at 6 -11. They're missing Ja Moran
and Brandon Clark. You just can't overstate how
important that interior stability is for a team
that relies on transition and generating turnovers.
Coach Tumas Aisolo emphasized that Edie's absence
is a huge loss. He noted his massive impact on
defense, on rebounding, and how he attracts defenders
inside, which generates easier outside shots
for his teammates. Yeah, when he's not there,
opponents have a much easier time driving to
the rim and forcing perimeter players to take
tough contested shots. And given the sensitivity
around head injuries, plus the fact that migraines
are a recurring issue for him, the team is expected
to be extremely cautious. Right. Even though
he was spotted at practice doing basic movements
like hook shots and free throws, Memphis now
faces a difficult road stretch without him. It
just shows how tenuous their stability is right
now. If Memphis is going to salvage this season
before Morant gets back, they need their healthy
players, especially impact rookies like Edie,
on the court consistently. Okay, let's shift
gears completely to the NBA Cup. which has finally
found its rhythm and is rapidly moving into the
knockout phase. Yeah, the Lakers have secured
the second spot in the knockout round, joining
the Raptors in the East with a decisive 135 -118
win over the Clippers, their 3 -0 in group play.
That win was an absolute statement of intent,
and it was dominated by the Lakers' big three.
Oh, completely. Luka Doncic, Austin Reeves, and
LeBron James combined for an insane 99 points,
24 rebounds, and 22 assists. Doncic specifically
was phenomenal. 43 points, 13 assists, and 9
rebounds. He just narrowly missed a triple -double.
And while the quality of basketball was high,
the motivation behind the intensity is pretty
clear. It's the money. It's the money. Coach
J .J. Redick was candid. He cited the $53 ,000
player bonus as a lot of money, which definitely
provides extra incentive, especially for players
on two -way or minimum contracts. It's not just
a glorified exhibition. That cash prize is making
everyone play harder. But the special cup environment
also caused some controversy that we need to
talk about. Player safety. Exactly. Luka Doncic
ripped the special Laker hardwood court used
for the game. He called it... dangerous, due
to slipping issues caused by the paint and the
finish. And this is the third year in a row we've
heard players complain about these distinctive
court designs. It raises a genuine question.
Is the novelty of the special court design worth
the risk to player health? I mean, if the competition
is meant to be high stakes and high intensity,
the floor can't be this peculiar variable that
leads to injuries. It's a conflict between marketing
and safety that the league needs to address,
and fast. And that competitive tension? It boiled
over late in that game. It did. Donjic got into
a confrontation with Chris Dunn, which resulted
in Dunn's ejection after two technicals. Jackson
Hayes also earned a technical for pushing Dunn
after Dunn gave Luka what was described as a
cheap shot in my back. while they were waiting
for a rebound. And Dontridge immediately confirmed
he would cover Hayes' resulting $2 ,000 fine.
He said, I appreciate it. I told him right away,
thanks for having my back. That says a lot about
the protective chemistry on this newly configured
Lakers team. It really does. When you see your
teammates willing to take a technical and cover
your back, literally, that builds championship
-level trust. So you have the high -level basketball,
the player safety drama, the financial incentive,
and the on -court scuffles all wrapped up in
this new tournament format. So with the Lakers
and Raptors already in, we look ahead to Wednesday
and Friday to finalize the brackets. And this
sets up some incredible drama. Starting with
West Group A, which features a thrilling Western
Conference Finals rematch on Wednesday, exclusively
on ESPN. That's the Oklahoma City Thunder holding
a 2 -0 group record, hosting the Minnesota Timberwolves,
who are 2 -1. For OKC, this game is everything.
A win here, followed by a win against the Suns
on Friday, would likely secure them the top seed
and that critical home court advantage in the
quarterfinals. Which, given the Thunder's young
roster, is hugely valuable. But the Suns are
right there, also 2 -0. They have a must -win
situation Wednesday against Sacramento. The pressure
is immense on Phoenix. For sure. Even if they
lose to OKC on Friday. A decisive Wednesday win
puts them in a strong position to advance to
the knockout round, potentially as the wildcard
if they finish with the best goal differential
among second -place teams. For Phoenix, the Cup
offers a chance to build chemistry and win something
tangible early in the season. Over in West Group
C, the Trailblazers, despite being below .500
overall, they control their own destiny at 2
-1. This is the beauty of the cup format, isn't
it? A struggling team can use this high -stakes
tournament run to change their entire season
narrative? Absolutely. A victory over the Spurs,
who are 1 -1 on Wednesday, wins the group outright
for Portland. But if San Antonio manages to win
that game, they then face the Nuggets, who are
2 -1 on Friday for the crown. And the Nuggets,
obviously, they're a title contender with immense
pride, but they haven't been as dominant as they
could be, which makes this group see... extremely
unpredictable. The Blazers have the most to gain
here. A potential cut berth could inject life
into their fan base and their locker room. Moving
to the East, Group B is focused squarely on Detroit.
Yep. The Magic are 3 -0, but the Pistons are
2 -0, and they're riding that incredible franchise
record 13 -game winning streak. This is one of
the biggest stories in the NBA right now, period.
And... This sets up an electrifying Friday matchup
between those two teams. Detroit would win the
group with a Friday victory, regardless of what
happens in their Wednesday game against Boston.
For the Pistons, this streak is validating their
entire rebuild. If they can parlay this momentum
into winning their group and reaching the knockout
round, it validates every coaching decision,
every draft pick they've made over the last three
seasons. Finally, East Group C is tight. The
Bucs at 2 -0 and the Knicks at 1 -1 are vying
to become the first team to reach the knockout
round in three straight seasons. And the 2 -1
Heat are firmly in the mix, too. That means every
single game this week is essentially a playoff
environment for these three teams. Milwaukee
visits Miami on Wednesday and then New York on
Friday. The critical X factor there is the status
of Giannis Antetokounmpo. Right. He's been dealing
with that groin injury. And Milwaukee has dropped
four straight games without him. falling below
.500 for the first time this season. His return
could instantly flip the outcome of these crucial
group games. If he's back at full strength, the
Bucs become the immediate favorite to advance.
His health is the linchpin for the entire group.
Let's shift our focus now from the urgency of
the tournament to the long -term foundational
debates driving the league, team tactics, player
valuation, and trade market dynamics. Let's start
with tactical adjustments, specifically in New
York and the curious case of Carl Anthony Towns.
Yeah, now in his second year with the Knicks,
he is struggling. His lowest overall shooting
percentage since 2015 at 45%, and a career -low
33 .7 % from 3 through 16 games. It's hard to
watch because he established himself as an All
-NBA player precisely because of his shooting
range. But the analysis suggests he needs a fundamental
temporary change. He needs to lean into his size.
Exactly. Lean into his 7 -foot, 248 -pound frame
and establish an interior game before stretching
to the arc. If he can't hit shots from distance,
he needs to generate rhythm down low. And the
data strongly supports this adjustment. It's
a direct correlation. In Nick's wins, Towns averages
11 .2 paint points. And subsequently, he shoots
a scorching 40 .7 % from three. Which suggests
that when he forces defenses to respect his size
down low, the three -point line opens up and
his confidence follows. But in losses, he completely
regresses. He dips to just 8 .7 pat points, and
his three -point percentage plummets to an absolutely
abysmal 21 .2%. The question is, why does he
stop going inside when the team is losing? It's
usually a symptom of trying to shoot yourself
out of a slump, which is the worst thing an elite
shooter can do when they have an established
interior game. What's truly revealing is that
in losses, the 6 '2 Jalen Brunson is averaging
significantly more paint points than Towns 14
.0. That gap highlights the issue perfectly.
Towns is settling for chucking up shots from
distance while slumping, rather than using his
size and getting to the rim to generate rhythm
and force defenses to collapse. So this creates
a clear coaching mandate for Mike Brown. Drop
more plays to get Towns closer to the basket,
even if he feels uncomfortable doing it. And
if nothing else, this focus on physicality down
low should help him get to the free throw line,
where he's having a career best season shooting
88 .4%. It's a simple mechanical change that
could unlock the entire Knicks offense and pull
him out of this slump. Now we get into trade
value debates, starting with a move that was
initially panned by nearly every pundit. The
Utah Jazz swapping Colin Sexton for Yusuf Nurkic
this past offseason. The Jazz were lambasted
for exchanging a younger, score -first guard
for an aging center. And yet here we are. The
move may be working out perfectly for the Jazz,
largely because Walker Kessler suffered a season
-ending injury which thrust Nurkic into a starter's
role much earlier than anticipated. And despite
being past his prime, Nurkic has put up decent
numbers. 7 .5 points, 9 .6 rebounds, and 3 .5
assists in about 25 minutes a game. And NBA insider
Jake Fisher reported that Nurkic has performed
well enough that he is expected to generate significant
interest from rival teams as he plays out his
$19 .3 million expiring contract. This highlights
a crucial point about value in the modern NBA
that often flies under the radar. It's that the
specific type of player often matters more than
raw age or individual scoring talent, especially
when teams are gearing up for the playoffs. Right.
Exactly. Nurkic, even with his decreased mobility,
is a quality rotation big man and a unique high
post operator. He's a connector big who could
facilitate offense from the elbow. And that role
is highly coveted by playoff teams who need depth
at center and a secondary playmaker. His value
on an expiring deal is reportedly higher than
Sexton's, who, despite his scoring potential,
is viewed by the league as a score -first guard
who is exploitable defensively in a high -stakes
seven -game series. Teams will specifically target
Sexton in a defensive scheme, while Nurkic adds
size and structure. Shifting to the legacy conversation,
reigning MVP Shai Gilgis -Alexander is leading
the Oklahoma City Thunder to the league's best
record. But Nikola Jokic is forcing his way back
into the narrative. And the conversation is getting
serious. It is. Jokic is having a historic season
at 30 years old. He's averaging 29 .6 points,
12 .8 rebounds, and 11 .1 assists, while shooting
incredibly efficiently 62 .6 % from the field
and 43 .4 from three. His combination of size,
efficiency, and playmaking is nearly unprecedented.
But the conversation around his legacy is heating
up, maybe too fast. A former NBA finalist coach
actually put Jokic in the conversation for Best
player in the history of the NBA. Which is a
huge claim. A huge claim for a player with only
one title and three MVPs. What criterion did
that coach use that puts him ahead of, say, a
five -time champion like Magic Johnson or the
established GOAT conversation with Michael Jordan?
The focus is entirely on his efficiency and basketball
IQ. The coach argued that no player with his
size has ever combined that level of playmaking,
averaging a near triple -double with that level
of shooting efficiency. So it's the intellectual
argument. It's all about his incredible basketball
IQ. And that IQ translates not just to offensive
playmaking, but also to defense. He's a good
team defender who generates steals one point
true for his career just by anticipating passes
and rotations. So the argument is that if you
value total offensive perfection and intellectual
dominance, Jokic is already approaching that
tier, even if he needs... more titles to solidify
his status in the traditional sense. Exactly.
It's an intellectual argument that separates
him from the sheer athleticism of other greats.
Yeah. He still has time to add those titles,
but the underlying numbers supporting the claim
are staggering. All right. We've hit the trade
deadline. Watch. The Sacramento Kings are having
a surprisingly rocky start at 5 and 13. And that
leads directly to trade rumors that suggest they
are willing to listen to offers for almost everyone
except Keegan Murray and Neek Clifford. If they
do decide to sell, veteran Jamar DeRozan is the
easiest and most valuable chip to move. No doubt.
He's still performing well at 18 .7 points per
game on 50 % shooting, but the key is his contract.
Next season is only partially guaranteed at $10
million. That makes him highly movable for a
contending team looking for a short -term boost.
So let's run through the three most sensible
trade scenarios being discussed, because they
demonstrate three different motivations for trading.
First up. the L .A. Clippers, who are reportedly
already looking into him. This trade would be
driven by desperation and necessity. Absolutely.
The Clippers are 5 -12, and they owe their first
-round pick, so they are firmly all -in on maximizing
this window. The suggested trade is DeRozan for
Bogdan Bogdanovich and Derek Jones Jr. This works
for Sacramento because they acquire Bogdanovich
as an asset to potentially flip later or integrate
immediately. The biggest drawback for the Clippers
is adding another older player. DeRozan is 36
to an already aged roster that needs youth and
durability. They're banking entirely on DeRozan
pushing them into contention right now. Okay,
next is the Golden State Warriors scenario, which
is built on solving that internal dysfunction
we talked about earlier. Right, the Kuminga conundrum.
If the Warriors decide that they cannot wait
on Jonathan Kuminga's development and want to
maximize their win -now window, trading for DeRozan
makes a lot of sense, despite his non -traditional
fit in their offense. The proposed deal sends
DeMar DeRozan and Keon Ellis to Golden State
in exchange for Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Heald
heading to Sacramento. This is fascinating. For
Golden State, this provides a proven win -now
piece whose ability to create reliable mid -range
scoring is immense. It offers a new dimension
in the half court. And for Sacramento, they get
their man in Kuminga, a young, high -upside player
hungry for a larger role, which aligns perfectly
with their stated goal of building around young
core pieces. But this trade has to wait until
Kaminga is trade eligible in January. Correct.
And finally, the Boston Celtics scenario, which
is purely about salary. It just demonstrates
the complex influence of the collective bargaining
agreement on decision making. The reports say
this move is driven purely by Boston's desire
to manage their salary structure and avoid the
financial penalties associated with being a high
spending team. Precisely. The Celtics are a hair
over the first apron and about $12 million above
the tax line. Trading Anfernee Simons, who is
on an expiring $27 million deal for DeRozan's
$24 million salary, helps them move closer to
getting under the luxury tax and that first apron.
And for those unfamiliar with the CBA, that first
apron severely restricts a team's ability to
acquire players and make trades later in the
season. By maneuvering below it... Boston maintains
essential flexibility. And the Kings would acquire
Simons as a high -scoring asset to either flip
immediately or use in a sign -and -trade later.
His scoring ceiling is high, despite being streaky
early in his Celtics tenure. It's a move motivated
by accounting, not necessarily by optimizing
on -court talent immediately. We transition now
to the college ranks, where teams are building
their resumes during early tournament play and
non -conference battles. The landscape is already
seeing some shakeups. Let's start with consistency.
Missouri men's basketball is just rolling along,
improving to a perfect 7 -0 after dominating
South Carolina State 98 -66. They held the Bulldogs
to just 37 .5 % shooting. They're showing that
early season consistency that suggests they are
a real threat in the SEC this year. And a team
that made a massive statement on the defensive
end was Indiana. They beat Kansas State 86 -69.
And that victory helped them jump seven spots
to no 15 nationally in defensive efficiency on
Ken Palm. And that jump is huge. Ken Palm, for
those unfamiliar, uses predictive efficiency
ratings and advanced metrics to project team
performance, and climbing into the top 15 defensively
shows Indiana is fundamentally sound. Their defense
was absolutely suffocating. It was. Indiana forced
a remarkable 25 % turnover rate against a K -State
team that averaged under 20 % on the season.
That's just pure defensive pressure and scheme
work. And their top scorers were Reed Bailey
with 21 points and Taton Connerway adding 19
points and two assists. That victory proved they
have enough reliable offensive talent to win
even when their top draft prospects might struggle.
They're relying on solid defensive execution
and secondary scoring. The Maui Invitational
provided huge highlights and exposed some national
contenders. Yeah, Seton Hall registered its biggest
win of the season, dominating no 23 -22 NC State
85 -74. A .J. Stett -McCray had 22 points. Seton
Hall trailed by only two at halftime, but they
opened the second half with a decisive 17 -2
run. The Wolfpack never got closer than nine
the rest of the way. That second -half explosiveness
is a great indicator of coaching adjustments
and superior conditioning. But the Pirates' run
was ultimately edged by USC 83 -81. Yeah, USC
rallied behind Baker Mazzara after their star
player Rice left early in the second half with
what looked like an upper arm or shoulder injury.
Baker Mazaras stepped up. He scored 12 points
over a crucial five -minute stretch, including
a three -pointer that finished a 10 -0 run to
put the Trojans ahead for good. It's a great
example of a team showing resilience and stepping
up when their primary option goes down. Then
we saw a true trouncing in the Vegas finale.
Syracuse was just destroyed 95 -64 by No. 15
Iowa State. Syracuse was competitive. They were
only down one point at halftime, but they were
absolutely annihilated, outscored 60 -30 in the
second half. Iowa State's defense was the key.
They forced 19 Syracuse turnovers that translated
directly into 30 points. You just can't win when
you get that many points. And Iowa State's Milan
Momsilovic had a game -high 24 points, hitting
6 of 10 shots from three -point range. His shooting
was the dagger that allowed Iowa State to pull
away completely in that second half. So beyond
the box scores, we are tracking players whose
performances are starting to catch the intense
attention of NBA scouts. Starting with Iowa's
senior guard. Then it's Sturtz. Right. Sturtz
had an incredible night against Ole Miss, went
off for 29 points, including six of eight from
beyond the arc, leading the Hawkeyes to a 74
-69 win. And he followed his coach, Ben McCollum,
from Drake to Iowa, and is averaging almost 20
points through Iowa's first four wins. But what
are scouts actually seeing in his game, beyond
the numbers? The interest isn't just because
he's a high scorer. It's because he understands
modern NBA movement. Sturtz is a master of off
-ball offense. He's running McCollum's system
perfectly. Exactly. Using screens to get open
for quick trigger threes and showcasing excellent
pick -and -roll ability, which is essential for
a modern NBA guard. His ability to hit those
shots off movement and use smart passes when
the defense collapses is what's driving him up
the mock drafts. What's also compelling about
Sturtz is the off -court narrative. He reportedly
turned down a lot of money in the transfer portal
to stay loyal to McCollum's system. He prioritized
the relationship and fit over NIL temptation.
And he's reportedly prioritizing using his platform
to give glory to him God rather than chasing
personal endorsement fame. This speaks to a maturity
level that NBA front offices really value when
they look at potential late -round steals. Back
to the college game. Will Barron Phelan Jr.,
the sophomore guard for No. 8 Alabama, he looks
primed for an All -American campaign. The 6 '4
guard is averaging elite numbers. 20 .7 points,
5 .7 assists, and 2 .7 rebounds through six contests.
And Alabama's offensive philosophy is helping
him shine. They shoot the sixth most three -pointers
per game in the country. This incredible floor
spacing, which pulls centers out of the paint,
is leading directly to their interior efficiency.
Exactly. Filon is benefiting immensely from that
spacing. He is a primary beneficiary of the wide
-open driving lanes, which allows him to use
his athleticism and scoring touch to post an
elite 60 .7 two -point percentage, ranking them
in the top 30 nationally. He's not just scoring.
He's scoring efficiently and setting up his teammates
within a high -powered offensive system. All
right, let's shift our focus years ahead now
to the 2026 NBA mock draft, where the foundational
talent is already starting to separate itself.
Front offices are already dedicating significant
scouting resources to these prospects. For sure.
Darren Peterson, the dynamic guard who was committed
to Kansas. He's an early candidate for the consensus
number one spot. His combination of size, scoring
punch, and athleticism is exactly what NBA teams
look for in a franchise cornerstone. But another
prospect, Wilson, who's currently playing prep
school basketball, he's rapidly creating separation
as a clear top five contender. He leads the nation
in box plus minus and has logged a ridiculous
24 dunks in just five games. His motor and downs
are well documented, but the key developmental
leap is his offensive complexity. He's creating
easy baskets using his handle and slicing through
defenses. This versatility is what scouts love.
And you see flashes of true high IQ passing and
legitimate shooting range coupled with elite
defensive tools. This versatile skill set suggests
he is quickly separating himself in those early
top tier discussions because he projects not
just as an athletic marvel, but as a genuine
two -way wing who can contribute immediately.
Then there is Pete from Arizona State. He's a
prospect whose game is based on raw power and
polish. He's showing incredibly advanced footwork,
touch, and strength, consistently separating
himself from much bigger defenders like the 230
-pound Alex Condon and the 265 -pound Ruben Chinelo.
Pete relies on signature short -range follow
-aways or athletic finishes, and he uses his
body beautifully. Scouts are divided on him,
though, and this is where the debate gets interesting.
Some buy the tools and the polish. They point
to his production as a young player. He averaged
9 .4 points. shot 60 % inside the arc, and posted
an impressive 9 .8 % block rate as a 17 -year
-old freshman. But the concern is translatability
to the pro game. He's listed as a 6 '8 power
forward with limited range, and he relies heavily
on contested two -point jumpers. In the NBA,
relying on contested twos is a difficult way
to make a living. If he could improve his shooting
range and overall half -court creation, his defensive
instincts and elite post -footwork alone could
make him a special NBA impact player. But that
jump shot is the ceiling limiter right now. Okay,
moving into the middle of the first round, we
see Chris Cenac Jr., a 6 '11 power forward from
Houston, projected 16th to the Oklahoma City
Thunder. Cenac is a high -floor prospect. He's
productive and efficient, provides reliable minutes
due to his size, athleticism at the rim, and
shot -making versatility hitting foul -aways
from the post and rhythm threes. He's come to
Jabari Smith Jr., which suggests he's built to
be a modern scoring big. The pathways to upside
are where scouts have questions, though. He lacks
defensive playmaking and passing, meaning scouts
question how strongly he'll impact games if his
shot isn't falling consistently. For OKC, this
pick would provide reliable size and shooting
depth as they continue to refine their roster.
At pick 18, the New York Knicks are projected
to take Matt Abel from North Carolina State,
who draws a pro comparison to Landry Shammott.
His shooting is the primary draw? but he operates
with real poise and intelligence. He really does.
He utilizes smart escape dribbles into pull -ups
and makes very smart passing reads for a scoring
guard. While he's mostly been a perimeter scoring
specialist, his finishing shows obvious touch,
which alleviates concerns about his lack of strength
and explosion. He's a guy you can plug into an
offense who instantly makes it smarter. OKC potentially
grabs another prospect at 26 with Caden Boozer
from Duke comped to Trey Jones. Boozer is a player
whose numbers might not jump off the page, but
he demonstrates an advanced feel. unselfishness,
and high IQ running the offense. This is pure
floor generalship. So scouts who value steady,
reliable point guard play will appreciate his
ability to make the game easier for his teammates,
even if they question his lack of explosive athleticism
or scoring punch for a lead guard in the NBA.
Exactly. Moving into the second round, Juke Harris,
currently playing prep basketball, is projected
37th and is comped to Aaron Wiggins. Harris has
produced his way into the conversation as a 6
'7 small forward. He's a serious transition weapon,
a three -point threat, and a good off -ball scorer,
driving, cutting, and crashing the glass. The
key for him is sustaining that level of scoring
and efficiency throughout his first year in college
or on the professional circuit. If he shows consistency,
he moves into the first round easily. Finally,
a strong international prospect, Sergio de la
Rea from Valencia, Spain, projected 39th to the
Spurs, who always look for international talent.
He's comped to Bogdan Bogdanovich. He's a 6 '5
shooting guard who is a knockdown three -point
shooter. He hit 43 .2 % last year and is starting
this season 18 for 34. He also averages 3 .1
assists in only 15 .8 minutes, which shows obvious
feel and passing IQ in ball screen situations.
His combination of size, shot making, and playmaking
gives him an easy projected fit in the NBA, especially
for a team like the Spurs that runs a sophisticated
offensive system. That wraps up our look into
the most pressing issues in the NBA and the exciting
talent pipeline in college basketball. We've
seen incredible drama from Anthony Davis demanding
his way back onto the court despite front office
pushback. A move that cost his general manager
his job. To the Pistons tying a franchise record
with their 13 -game winning streak heading into
critical cut play. And tactically, the conversation
around player value is evolving fast. We talked
about how Nurkic, despite being past his prime,
is expected to generate more trade interest than
a score -first guard like Sexton because of his
specific role as a rotational high post big.
It just reinforces that fit, specific positional
need, and contract flexibility often outweigh
traditional metrics of raw scoring or youth.
Similarly, we saw the hard numbers supporting
the idea that a player like Carl Anthony Towns
must use his interior game, even if he's a great
outside shooter, to anchor his rhythm. Right.
When he scores more in the paint, his three -point
percentage jumps from 21 % up to 40%. The tactical
adjustment for New York is obvious. Rhythm comes
from proximity. And the excitement of the NBA
Cup is now firmly in the knockout stages. The
high -stakes financial incentive of that $53
,000 bonus is clearly adding tangible motivation
for every player, despite some critical issues
with the special court designs and player safety.
As we look ahead, the future is incredibly bright
both in the NCAA and in the upcoming draft classes.
But the decisions struggling teams make right
now regarding their existing veteran talent will
define that future. Which raises an important,
provocative question for you, the listener. Which
struggling lottery -bound team like the Sacramento
Kings, who are already listening to trade offers
for DeRozan, or maybe a team like the Brooklyn
Nets, will be the first to truly commit to building
around a young, high -upside, unproven talent
like Jonathan Kuminga, or an incoming prospect
like Alex Saar, rather than chasing a quick fix
with a veteran? That long -term vision is always
the hardest bet to make in the competitive landscape
of the NBA. You have to decide to take a step
back before you can take two steps forward. Thank
you for joining us for another edition of Basketball
Home. We'll catch you next time.