HOOP 2017-18

GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO, ANTHONY DAVIS, KRISTAPS PORZINGIS, KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS & NIKOLA JOKIC ARE READY TO TAKE THE TORCH.

WARM UPS

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We wish we could show you one frame for each of the 360 degrees that Victor Oladipo turned on this dunk, but you’ll have to settle for six.

THE GAMEPLAN FEATURES

2017-18 ANNUAL

35 Unburying the Ledes Every year there are storylines that bear paying attention to. Whether a player can return from injury. If a certain free agent is worth the money lavished upon him. Which side won out on the blockbuster trade. We go through all the plotlines and see who and what is at stake in 2018-19.

42 Tracing the DNA The game is constantly evolving. Today’s Ben Simmons was yesterday’s LeBron, who was Magic before him. Using five standout rookies from the 2017 NBA Draft— Lonzo Ball, Jayson Tatum, Josh Jackson, Dennis Smith Jr. and Simmons—we trace back the line of predecessors that have shaped their games.

56 Ahead of Their Time The words “generational” and “unicorns” are thrown around to describe today’s modern and once-ina-lifetime players, but if you carefully look back, you’ll see that they’ve always existed. Sevenfooters who put the ball on the floor and run like a gazelle, nimble ballhandlers who could shoot the lights out, multidimensional players who could fill up the boxscore—these players have roamed NBA arenas. The basketball world just wasn’t ready for them at the time.

64 The Ties that Bind and the Glue that Bonds 72 Most Valuable Prodigies The average age of an NBA MVP is around 28.

In the 62-year history of the award, there have only been a dozen players who have held up the Maurice Podoloff Trophy before the age of 25.

Young players have to earn the distinction from voters, and frankly, most aren’t ready until they’ve had a few seasons under their belt. There are, of course, exceptions, and five under-25-year-olds are currently playing at a high enough level to compete for an MVP right now.

In the annals of the NBA, the superstars have gotten the lion’s share of the credit for their team’s success, but look at each successful team’s roster and you’ll invariably find some less heralded players that played a part in ensuring success. We look at some of today’s best players that make it all come together for their teams.

POSTER Once teammates, LeBron James and Kyrie Irving now share opposite sides of the poster.

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COVER PHOTOGRAPHS BY CHRIS SCHWEGLER; NATHANIEL S. BUTLER (2); LAYNE MURDOCH; GARY DINEEN/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

Award-Winning TVs From America’s Fastest-Growing TV Brand.

THE GAME PLAN 2017-18 ANNUAL DEPARTMENTS

2 Warmups 8 The Point 10 Starting Five Thaddeus Young shares the five players that have made enough of an impact in his NBA career to warrant a spot on his squad.

12 Numerology Thenumbers game between Michael Jordan and LeBron James.

14 Know Your Newb De’Aaron Fox is a quick study in his rookie year.

15 First Five Aaron Gordon, Dejounte Murray, Jusuf Murkic, Domantas Sabonis, Taurean Prince

20 Brackit What was the greatest feud in the NBA?

24 Head2Head

24

Which almost-7-foot athletic freak is the bigger basketball marvel—Kevin Durant or Giannis Antetokounmpo?

26 Catching Up with Bernard King LeBron James might be self-crowning himself on Instagram, but the original King of New York is Bernard King.

28 Celeb Row Insecure star Jay Ellis fell short of his NBA dream, but his backup plan has worked out pretty good.

85 Holiday Gift Guide We do our best at picking the things to give and receive, including all the goods to kit out your smart home.

29 Stick to the Script Jaylen Brown talks about his come-up to the NBA.

32 24 Seconds Devin Booker has scored 70 points in a game, but still remembers the days before he scored a single point.

82 Stepback

82

Kobe Bryant always believes he can make the shot, even when going up against a wall of defenders that have 31 AllDefensive selections.

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94

94 Spin Moves Mike Conley knows how to fill out his free time.

96 He Got Game Ben Simmons takes his Call of Duty very seriously.

BASKETBALL ONLY REQUIRES OUR MUTUAL LOVE FOR THE GAME.

@NBACARES

THE POINT It might not always be apparent, but the NBA tide never stops. One wave comes in with new stars, they spend their time on the beach and then they slowly cede away as the surf brings another shiny set to take their place.

The five cover guys washed ashore a few years ago, but they’re quickly developing the luster. While we celebrate their time in the sun, let’s not forget some of the well-patinated gems of the previous wave.

Tony Parker was never the top point guard, but he was always in the top five or so at his position. Neither a high-volume scorer1 nor distributor, Parker was able to run the Spurs’ ship,2 with the voyage ending in a championship four times, one of them as Finals MVP. None of his more regarded contemporaries—even combined—can make the same boast.

Chris Bosh’s career was abbreviated due to a heart condition, but let’s remember the guy was an All-Star every year3 for 11 straight seasons, sacrificed and morphed his game into a stretch 4 to accommodate the LeBron/Wade Heat teams, and in spite of it, still managed to pile up 17K points and 7.5K rebounds.

Tony Allen will never have to pay for a drink or a plate of good barbecue in Memphis. The Grizzlies have already pledged that his #9 will rise up to the FedEx Forum rafters.4 Allen will go down as one of the best defensive players of all time,5 but he was beloved for embodying the blue-collar and underdog status of Memphis and creating the Grit ‘N Grind movement.

Kyle Korver is living proof that if you possess the most basic skill in basketball—shooting—you will always have a place on the court. As a forgettable second-round pick in 2003, Korver has only played 15 seasons, parlaying that into a career that, when folks look back, will rank him right behind LeBron, Wade, Carmelo and Bosh. Korver is currently fifth all time in three-pointers made and sixth in three-point percentage.6 At 40, Jason Terry is more coach than player at this point, but he’s still in shorts and a jersey.7 Terry’s career has been a slow simmer, never the best player on the court, but one that you needed to keep an eye out for during the big moments.

Never lacking in confidence, Terry got a tattoo of the Larry O’Brien Trophy on his arm, which is fine if you’re a champ. But Terry got it in October and made good on the commitment come June when he helped the Mavericks win their first title.

High-flyers like Vince Carter burn hot, but their careers usually dim quicker.

Maybe it’s the shock from the landings from their high takeoffs, but Carter has not been affected by them, and few players have reached the heights Carter has flown. It’s hard to look past Carter’s dunk highlights, but if you peel it back, you’ll see a very productive and all-around career.8 He’ll be 41 before All-Star, but Carter can still throw one back from time to time.

Zach Randolph never looked the part of an NBA player, even back in his 20-10 days as a 20-something in Portland, some 15 years ago. Somehow Randolph has made it work, carving out a long career, one where he got his shot or rebound over guys longer, taller, faster, quicker, who jump higher—and now, much younger—than him.

With his playground-friendly game, Jamal Crawford will one day dazzle the BIG3 or any other pro-am league. But until that day comes, you can still find him making NBA players look foolish trying to chase the basketball that he wields as if it was tethered to a string. At an age (37) where most ballplayers start using their advanced weight to hip-check young’ns while slowing the game down, Crawford is still pulling out the latest dance moves to juke out kids almost half his age.

I can only wish to age as well.

Volume 46 No. 1 Editor in Chief Ming Wong #2 Design Director Kengyong Shao #31 Associate Editors Phil D’Apolito #17, Dan Holzhauer #68, John Martin #16 Assistant Editor Adam Kaufman #0 Assistant Art Director Ita Goldfeder #18 Online Editor Darryl Howerton #21 Editor-at-Large Jeramie McPeek #4 Copy Editor Trevor Kearney #8 Senior Writer Michael Bradley #53 Contributing Writers Alex Bracetti #44, Jon Cooper #10, Bryan Crawford #26, Pete Croatto #20, Jammel Cutler #33, Josh Eberley #41, Jim Eichenhofer #12, Anthony Gilbert #1, Melody Hoffman #34 Retired Numbers #6, #11, #13, #30, #99

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NBA Publishing/NBA Photos BONUS POINTS 1. Parker only averaged 20 points in a season twice, but has a shot at reaching 20K points for his career.

2. It’s no easy task playing PG for Gregg Popovich, let alone for 17 seasons.

3. Ever since he donned that cowboy hat and used-car salesman persona.

4. This all while he’s still playing—for another team, no less.

5. Even Kobe Bryant admitted that TA gave him the most trouble.

6. Not bad for the 51st overall pick out of Creighton.

7. And of course his customary high socks and headband.

8. Carter was just less than 500 points from 25,000, and has amassed more than 6,000 rebounds and 4,000 assists.

President and Executive Producer, Content Danny Meiseles Senior VP Content, Production Paul Hirschheimer Senior VP, Entertainment & Player Marketing Charlie Rosenzweig Executive VP, Communications Mike Bass VP, Editorial & Daily Content John Hareas President, Global Operations and Merchandising Sal LaRocca Vice President, Global Partnerships Matt Holt Coordinator, Global Partnerships Daniel Lupin Coordinator, Global Partnerships Harley Opolinsky Manager, Global Media Programs Felecia Groomster Senior Directors & Senior Official NBAE Photographers Andrew D. Bernstein, Nathaniel S. Butler Vice President, NBA Photos Joe Amati Director, Photos Imaging David Bonilla Official NBAE Photographer Jesse Garrabrant Senior Photo Editor Brian Choi Senior Photo Coordinator Kevin Wright All NBA photos appearing in this magazine, unless otherwise indicated, are copyright of NBA Entertainment. All WNBA photos appearing in this magazine, unless otherwise indicated, are copyright of WNBA Enterprises. All NBDL photos appearing in this magazine, unless otherwise indicated, are copyright of NBDL Enterprises. HOOP is published annually, by PSP. © 2018 Professional Sports Publications. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without permission of publisher is prohibited. To subscribe to HOOP, call (800) 829-3347.

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JUMPBALL

BY JON COOPER #10

STARTING 5

THADDEUS YOUNG INDIANA PACERS

Thaddeus Young admits he does a lot of things very well, but doesn’t do anything great.

One exception to that is his leadership by example—that’s something at which he excels and does as well as anybody in the NBA. The 29-year-old Memphis native lives by the same worth ethic and prepares the same tireless way in the offseason he always has. The goal: be as durable and productive as ever.

In his 11th season, Young has averaged 74 games per season, never playing fewer than 63, and has produced per-game averages of 13.6 points (on 50 percent shooting), 5.9 rebounds and 1.4 steals (twice finishing in the League’s top 10 in steals per game).

Young is also known as a versatile defender, able to bang in the paint with bigs and keep stride with perimeter players.

The 6-8, 230-pound power forward, the 12th overall pick of the Philadelphia 76ers in 2007, is in his 10th NBA season and second with the Indiana Pacers. (He joined Minnesota for part of ‘14, played with Brooklyn in ‘14 and ‘15, and landed with the Pacers last season.) His role has changed, from the up-and-coming youngster (he was an All-Rookie Second-Teamer in ‘08) who receives advice and mentoring tips from veterans to doing the same for the up-and-comers. He’s even dedicated to helping youngsters off the court as demonstrated by his foundation Young For Youth. (For more, visit Youngforyouth.org.)

It’s a role that Young has played for four different teams in his career. Young grew into the role not long after getting drafted

by Philadelphia. Here is his starting five.

POINT GUARD: ANDRE MILLER (Teammates in Philadelphia from 2007-09) “He’s a true floor general, knows how to get everybody into the game, knows how to run the show. I had the luxury of playing with him my first couple of years in the League. He really made it very easy for my transition coming into the League, where basically I was catching the ball in position to where all I had to do was put it in the basket. That’s what guys want out of their point guard, to put them in a position where they could be successful.

“His IQ is huge and vital for us, being a young team at the time. How he ran the floor and how he orchestrated the offense was huge for us. He wasn’t the most athletic guy or the guy who could play the best defense but he knew how to be in position, he knew how to help guys out, he knew how to make guys better. That was huge for me as a young guy. That was huge for Lou Williams as a young guy; that was huge for Andre Iguodala as he was rising into the star that he’s become—he was very vital for some of the young guys who have made names for themselves in this League.”

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SHOOTING GUARD: JOE JOHNSON (Teammates in Brooklyn from 2014-16) “‘Iso-Joe!’ The demeanor that he brought each and every day—he was always upbeat, a true veteran. One of the best iso-guys I’ve ever seen. He has the ability to play the 1 through the 4 position with his ballhandling skills. He was a true vet. He always talked to guys, kept guys in good spirits, brought out the confidence within the guys. It wasn’t about him.

It was always about the team. And he made big shots. I always knew Joe was able to score, light it up from outside, an Iso guy that could make big shots. There wasn’t any game that stands out. They all stood out.”

RON HOSKINS (2); FERNANDO MEDINA; NED DISHMAN; DAVID LIAM KYLE; DAVID DOW; JESSE D. GARRABRANT/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

CENTER: MYLES TURNER (Teammates in Indiana from 2016-present) “My big fella that I have right now. I like Myles because he’s athletic and he’s able to go out there and do a lot of different things with the basketball. He’s a great shotblocker and rebounder that can run out in transition. He beats out Brook [Lopez] because he’s more athletic and he has a lot of upside, but I definitely loved playing with Brook. Brook can shoot threes and gets good post-up position and gets to the basket.”

POWER FORWARD: THADDEUS YOUNG “You don’t have that many left-handed guys and I’m a very versatile player. I can step out and shoot threes, I can make midrange jumpers, I can rebound the basketball, I can get steals, I can get out in transition, there are a lot of different things I can do. I can post up guys. I’m just a very versatile player. I’m not overly great at one thing, but I’m very good at a lot of different things. I think the biggest thing that’s helped me in the League is my hard work and dedication to the game. I give my blood, sweat and tears to the game each and every day. I put a lot of time in in the summer so I get myself ready for the season. Whether it’s lifting four or five times a week or it’s going to the gym seven days a week and getting up shots, or just working on little basic stuff—hook shots around the basket—just perfecting my craft. Another thing is being professional, being coachable each and every day, always trying to continue to learn about the game and always trying to continue to focus in on the game.”

SMALL FORWARD: ANDRE IGUODALA (Teammates in Philadelphia from 2007-12) “I like him because of his defensive capabilities. I’ve seen and I learned a lot from playing with him with the Sixers. He’s able to do a lot of different things as far as getting guys into a good flow on offense, or getting guys into different situations on offense and making it to where guys have the capability to score. Defensively he just locks down. Every player I’ve seen him play against, he’s made it tough for them. He’s locked them down.

Offensively, one thing about Andre, his ballhandling skills are crazy. He’s made a few guys fall in the League [laughs]. He just made Paul Millsap fall. So he’s definitely a guy that’s underrated for his natural skill and overlooked sometimes, but he has a great feel for the game and he just knows how to help you win.”

WILDCARD: LOU WILLIAMS (Teammates in Philadelphia from 2007-12) “‘Sweet Lou!’ He gets the job done. He comes in, instant scorer, instant spark, can shoot the basketball, can handle the basketball. He can do a lot of different things. He’s very, very good. I played with him in Philly for a few years and he’s just a natural-born scorer. That’s what he does.”

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JUMP BALL NUMEROLOGY

Earlier this season, LeBron James matched Michael Jordan’s 1,072 regular-season games played in the NBA. The 2 players have often been compared with 1 another and debated as the greatest of all time (even LeBron has admitted to chasing the “ghost” of Jordan), but after an even slate of games under their belts, how do the 2 stack up numerically?

32,292 > 29,105

LeBron will be the 1st one to tell you that he is not a scorer. Still, he’ll likely finish this season as just the 7th player in NBA history to eclipse the 30K mark in career scoring, joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain and Dirk Nowitzki in the club. But this wide gap illustrates just how prolific a scorer Jordan was, scoring more than 3,000 points than James in the same number of games.

28 < 56

It’s no surprise that LeBron holds a big advantage in triple-doubles. James has been a trip-dub threat from day 1, averaging 7.3 rebounds and 7.1 assists per game for his career, bettering Jordan’s 6.2 and 5.3 output.

706 < 716

When it comes to regular-season success, LeBron has a 10-game edge on Mike. Since LeBron entered the NBA, he’s only had 1 losing season (his rookie season of 2003-04). His subsequent seasons have seen more wins than losses, with his team making the postseason every year.

Jordan took his share of lumps early—as he was finding himself his first 3 seasons in the League—and late—as a 39- and 40-year-old Washington Wizard—but his middle years were unmatched in the modern era. His Bulls teams were dominant, setting the 1-time record for most wins with a 72-10 season. Jordan also did it with just 1 Hall of Fame teammate (Scottie Pippen) while LeBron has had plenty of help players who are either in the HOF, are Hall-bound or on the path to it: Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Shaquille O’Neal, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love.

6-0 > 3-5

Part of the myth of Jordan that continues is his perfect Finals record. Hell, Jordan even took off a season-and-a-half during his prime years and never even needed to go to a Game 7 during his stellar Finals career. This is the 1 area that LeBron will never surpass MJ in the eyes of the Mike stans. Even if LeBron were to win 3 more, they’ll point at his 5 losses and overlook his 7 straight Finals appearances (8 total), something only Bill Russell can lay claim to. To LeBron’s credit, he’s garnered 3 Finals MVPs (to Jordan’s 6) and many have said he is worthy of 1 or 2 more for being the best player in the losing end of a series.

5>4

MVP awards are as much based on your own individual greatness as they are the contemporaries you played against. Jordan might have the advantage when it comes to Maurice Podoloff Trophies, but both players can make an equal argument for more, citing voter fatigue as a reason. Jordan could’ve stuffed the trophy case more if not for fellow Dream Teamers Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Charles Barkley and Karl Malone taking a few from him. LeBron’s could’ve eclipsed Jordan if not for some voters getting tired of writing his name down on the ballot. Fact: Since LeBron’s 3rd season in the NBA, he’s been a top 5 finisher for the award. For good measure, he placed 6th in 2004-05 and as a rookie out of high school, he impressed enough to finish 9th in MVP voting. Because of his consistent greatness, LeBron also holds the edge in All-NBA selections against Jordan, 13-11.

9>6

Based on All-Defensive selections, Jordan is regarded as the superior defender. For good measure, Jordan also has a Defensive Player of the Year award, while LeBron has only gotten as close as 2nd place for the award. But if you dig deeper, you can make the argument that LeBron is the superior defender. When it comes to versatility, James is the better defender, able to—and he does oftentimes—defend all 5 positions. LeBron also had the disadvantage of playing in a time where defensive specialists are on every roster and a time in the League with different defensive rules (no hand-checking being a key change).

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JUMP BALL KNOW YOUR NEWBS

DE’AARON FOX SACRAMENTO KINGS

Life in the NBA is a constant learning process. As things continue to change and evolve for the Sacramento Kings organization, one thing is clear: De’Aaron Fox is a quick study with an optimistic approach, who is looking forward to the possibilities of a bright future.

The former high school McDonald’s All-American and University of Kentucky standout was selected fifth overall in the 2017 NBA Draft, and while he has been a highly touted prospect over the years, he is more than willing to put in the necessary work to garner positive results.

Fox is focused, and eager to make a difference not only in his rookie campaign but also for many years to come. At 6-4 with a wingspan over 7 feet, he has a unique opportunity to impact the game on both ends of the floor.

Fox is a blend of different styles, mixed with emotion, basketball intelligence, and a love for the game unlike many others. His long arms and speed make him a menace defensively, and offensively, he usually has the ball in his hands or he is determining the success of possession. In essence, there aren’t too many things he cannot do. Nonetheless, he is preparing physically and mentally for the challenges of the season.

What are the differences between the college game and the NBA? The first thing is the spacing and the strength of the athletes...it’s really about the way that we play. It’s a lot more free—from the pick-and-roll, isolation [plays] and multiple actions.

How does that tempo work with your game?

For me personally, it helps because that’s the way I play. I like the open court and getting out there running. Anything from beating people off the dribble, and just trying to make plays—that’s my game.”

Especially in a first-person game series. I was really intrigued and we got a deal going because I really like the headphones. I played with headphones growing up. It helps me focus on the game and pay closer attention to it.

How are you adjusting to the transition of being a professional?

I have been getting treatment, that’s the biggest thing because it’s going to be a long season, and I’m just trying to take care of my body. I’ve been eating better, especially when I come to the gym. I sit down with the nutritionist, and our weight coach, and I’m trying to make the right choices with what I put in my body.

Did playing games such as NBA2K and NBA Live help your development on the court?

When I was younger, I played NBA2K and stole the moves from the players in the game to help me with basketball. Not so much now, but when I was like in fifth, sixth and seventh [grade]...it helped with my game. Now that I’m in the game, it’s cool because I don’t have to create myself!

What are your expectations for the season?

I just want to affect the game in any way possible. I’m going to rebound, defend, and be a defensive guy. I want us to win more games than we did last year and I want us to try to fight for a playoff spot.

What’s the biggest change for you now that you’re in Sacramento?

The biggest thing...it’s just been about getting accustomed to living on my own. I’ve been living by myself for a few weeks now. That’s the only adjustment. It’s really diverse out here, just like Houston. Other than that, I just come from the gym to the house. Occasionally I go out to eat, and hang out with my teammates—that’s about it.

What are you doing specifically on gameday?

I get a lift in before the game, and then I go out on the court, shoot around and get some individual work.

I haven’t really gotten situated as to what I’m going to do, especially on gameday, but that’s something I will figure out.

You enjoy gaming: Can you talk about your role with HyperX? It’s something that was presented to me and I play videogames a lot. They [HyperX] are a headphone company that is really good at what they do.

Now that you’re in the NBA, will you keep up with the college game?

At Kentucky, I kept up with my high school and I still talk to my high school coach a lot. I still talk to my Kentucky coaches a lot, too. I will always check in. We have a lot of down time in the NBA, so I will always see what they’re doing.

ANTHONY GILBERT #1

014 ROCKY WIDNER(2)/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

JUMP BALL

BY JAMMEL CUTLER #33 FIRST FIVE

Aaron Gordon has been predominantly known as just a high flyer since he went dunk for dunk against Zach LaVine in the 2016 Slam Dunk Contest,1 one of the most hotly contested competitions. As high as he soared on All-Star Saturday, Gordon’s game as a whole did not take off the rest of the season. Gordon’s first three seasons in the NBA saw just 9.3 PPG and 5.1 RPG—decent numbers, but not stats befitting the physical gifts2 that Gordon possesses.

However, this season Gordon has taken a larger role with Orlando, becoming its No.1 offensive option and its most electrifying player since Tracy McGrady.

“I am just having more fun. I’m not putting any pressure on myself. I’m healthy and I’m having fun,” says Gordon.

With second-year coach Frank Vogel at the helm, the Magic are expected to push the tempo and play a faster pace of basketball, something that fits Gordon’s skill set.

Last season, Gordon mostly played small forward while averaging 12.7 points. It was actually a personal best for him, but also a season where he struggled with his three-point shot while chasing smaller and quicker perimeter players on the other end. This year, he’s slotted primarily at power forward, allowing him the speed advantage over slower defenders.

The difference has been dramatic, as Gordon’s numbers have perked up.

After eight games this season, Gordon is averaging 19.1 PPG and 8.9 RPG, while shooting 53 percent and 56 percent from three.3 The question still remains, though: What is Gordon’s natural position?

“People have asked me that for years and years, and I always tell them the same thing. I feel more comfortable just being on the floor anywhere,” says Gordon.

The Magic are certainly doing that, featuring a lot of Gordon in their young but unproven lineup that has been one of the biggest early surprises. The team shocked NBA title contenders Cleveland and San Antonio in the first few weeks of the season. Orlando hasn’t seen the postseason in six seasons and the early success has the Magic, a team many had banked for the lottery, looking ahead.

“It would be incredible for the city, for the culture here. It would be a great time for our city to be back in the playoffs,” says Gordon.

With the major work he put in this offseason, Gordon’s game is expected to expand on both ends of the floor. Before, he was known only as a leaper, but his improved threeball makes him one of the toughest covers in the League. With all the Eastern Conference All-Star defects4 to the West, it also makes Gordon one of the candidates for his first All-Star Selection.

“I would love to be an All-Star5 and things like that, but more importantly, I just want to get this team to the playoffs this year,” says Gordon.

BONUS POINTS 1. Gordon and LaVine traded perfect 50 scores in the final round—a first in the contest— before LaVine bested Gordon 50-47 in the dunk-off round.

2. It was Gordon’s combination of size (6-9, 220 pounds) and athleticism that made him the fourth overall pick in the 2014 Draft.

3. It’s safe to say that by the time you read this, Gordon will not likely continue this rate, but he should best his career mark of 28 percent from three.

4. Four forwards from last year’s East squad—Jimmy Butler, Paul George, Carmelo Anthony and Paul Millsap—moved to the West during the offseason.

5. If he makes it, Gordon would be the first Magic All-Star since Dwight Howard in 2012.

00 AARON

GORDON

POWER FORWARD - ORLANDO MAGIC 015 FERNANDO MEDINA/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

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As you age, your immune system may weaken. Traditional flu shots may not work as well for older adults compared to younger adults.2,3 FLUAD is a flu shot for adults 65 and older that contains an immune-enhancing ingredient and is proven to provide a strong immune response to help protect against the flu.1

Learn more at FLUAD.com

It’s time to ask your doctor or pharmacist about FLUAD Important Safety Information What is FLUAD? FLUAD is a vaccine that helps protect against the flu. FLUAD is for people aged 65 years and older. Vaccination with FLUAD may not protect all people who receive the vaccine.

Who should not get FLUAD? You should not get FLUAD if you have had a severe allergic reaction to any of the ingredients in the vaccine in the past, including egg protein, or a severe reaction to a previous influenza vaccine.

Who may not be able to get FLUAD? Tell your health care provider if you: • Have ever had Guillain-Barré syndrome (severe muscle weakness) after getting a flu shot. The decision to give FLUAD should be made by your health care provider, based on careful consideration of the potential benefits and risks.

• Have an allergy to rubber latex. FLUAD does not contain latex, but the tip caps of the prefilled syringes contain natural rubber latex, which may cause an allergic reaction in persons sensitive to latex.

What if I have a weakened immune system?

Tell your health care provider if you have problems with your immune system, as your immune response to the vaccine may be reduced.

Designed for adults 65 and older

What are the most common side effects of FLUAD? • Pain or tenderness where you got the shot • Muscle aches • Headache • Fatigue These are not all of the possible side effects of FLUAD. You can ask your health care provider for a complete list of possible side effects.

Ask your health care provider for advice about any side effects that concern you. You may report side effects to the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS) by calling 1-800-822-7967 or by going to http://vaers.hhs.gov.

To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Seqirus Inc. at 1-855-358-8966 or VAERS at 1-800-822-7967 and http://vaers.hhs.gov.

For more information, please see Brief Summary of Prescribing Information for FLUAD on the following pages.

References: 1. FLUAD [package insert]. Holly Springs, NC: Seqirus Vaccines Limited; 2017. 2. Reber AJ, Chirkova T, Kim JH, et al. Immunosenescence and challenges of vaccination against influenza in the aging population. Aging Dis. 2012;3(1):68-90. 3. Goodwin K, Viboud C, Simonsen L. Antibody response to influenza vaccination in the elderly: a quantitative review. Vaccine. 2006;24(8):1159-1169.

Seqirus Inc. Holly Springs, North Carolina 27540

© 2017 Seqirus Inc.

June 2017

US/FLUD/0617/0038

FLUAD (Influenza Vaccine, Adjuvanted) Suspension for Intramuscular Injection 2017-2018 Formula Initial U.S. Approval: 2015

Table 1. Percentages of Subjects ≥ 65 Years of Age With Solicited Local and Systemic Adverse Reactions in Days 1-7 After Administration of FLUAD or AGRIFLU (a U.S. Licensed Comparator) NCT01162122 Study 1

BRIEF SUMMARY:

FLUAD (Na=3418-3496) Percentage

AGRIFLU (Na=3420-3488) Percentage

Any

25.0

12.2

Moderateb

3.9

1.9

Severec

0.3

0.2

Any

21.1

11.2

Moderate

3.0

1.0

Severe

0.1

0.2

Any

1.2

0.5

25 to ≤ 50 mm

1.1

0.5

51 to ≤ 100 mm

0.2

<0.1

See package insert for full prescribing information.

1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE

FLUAD is an inactivated influenza vaccine indicated for active immunization against influenza disease caused by influenza virus subtypes A and type B contained in the vaccine. FLUAD is approved for use in persons 65 years of age and older. Approval is based on the immune response elicited by FLUAD. Data demonstrating a decrease in influenza disease after vaccination with FLUAD are not available. [see Clinical Studies (14)]

Local Injection site Pain

Tenderness

4 CONTRAINDICATIONS

Do not administer FLUAD to anyone with a history of severe allergic reaction (e.g. anaphylaxis) to any component of the vaccine, including egg protein [see Description (11)], or to a previous influenza vaccine.

5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

5.1 Guillain-Barré Syndrome If Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) has occurred within 6 weeks of receipt of prior influenza vaccine, the decision to give FLUAD should be based on careful consideration of the potential benefits and risks. The 1976 swine influenza vaccine was associated with an elevated risk of GBS. Evidence for a causal relationship of GBS with other influenza vaccines is inconclusive; if an excess risk exists, it is probably slightly more than 1 additional case per 1 million persons vaccinated. [see References (1)] 5.2 Preventing and Managing Allergic Reactions Appropriate medical treatment and supervision must be available to manage possible anaphylactic reactions following administration of the vaccine.

5.3 Latex The tip caps of the prefilled syringes contain natural rubber latex which may cause allergic reactions in latex sensitive individuals. [see Description (11)] 5.4 Altered Immunocompetence The immune response to FLUAD in immunocompromised persons, including individuals receiving immunosuppressive therapy, may be lower than in immunocompetent individuals. [see Concurrent Use With Immunosuppressive Therapies (7.2)] 5.5 Syncope Syncope (fainting) may occur in association with administration of injectable vaccines including FLUAD. Ensure procedures are in place to avoid injury from falling associated with syncope.

5.6 Limitations of Vaccine Effectiveness Vaccination with FLUAD may not protect all vaccine recipients against influenza disease.

6 ADVERSE REACTIONS

6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, the adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a vaccine cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another vaccine and may not reflect rates observed in clinical practice.

Solicited adverse reactions were assessed in a multicenter, observerblind, randomized controlled study (Study 1) conducted in the United States, Colombia, Panama and the Philippines. The safety analysis set included 3545 FLUAD recipients and 3537 AGRIFLU (Influenza Vaccine) recipients. The enrolled subject population in Study 1 was 65 to 97 years of age (mean 72 years) and 64% were female. Within each treatment group, 53% were Asian, 28% were Caucasian, 18% were Hispanic, 1% were Black, and fewer than 1% each were Native American/Alaskan, Pacific Islander/Hawaiian, or Other.

Solicited local (injection site) and systemic adverse reactions were collected from subjects in Study 1 who completed a symptom diary card for seven days following vaccination. The reported frequencies of solicited local and systemic adverse events from Study 1 are presented in Table 1.

Erythema

Induration

Swelling

> 100 mm

0.0

0.0

Any

1.3

0.5

25 to ≤ 50 mm

1.0

0.5

51 to ≤ 100 mm

0.3

0.0

> 100 mm

0.0

0.0

Any

1.2

0.4

25 to ≤ 50 mm

1.0

0.4

51 to ≤ 100 mm

0.2

<0.1

> 100 mm

<0.1

0.0

Systemic Myalgia

Fatigue

Headache

Arthralgia

Chills

Diarrhea

Fever

Any

14.7

9.7

Moderate

2.6

1.8

Severe

0.3

0.7

Any

13.3

10.4

Moderate

3.1

2.4

Severe

0.4

0.6

PLTd

0.0

<0.1

Any

13.2

11.2

Moderate

3.0

2.6

Severe

0.4

0.6

PLT

0.0

<0.1

Any

8.5

7.8

Moderate

1.6

1.6

Severe

0.2

0.6

Any

6.7

4.7

Moderate

1.5

1.2

Severe

0.3

0.3

PLT

<0.1

0.0

Any

4.8

4.5

Moderate

1.3

0.9

Severe

0.3

0.2

PLT

<0.1

<0.1

Any

3.6

3.4

1.8

1.7

1.3

1.3

0.4

0.4

0.1

0.0

≥ 38.0°C to ≤ 38.4°C ≥ 38.5°C to ≤ 38.9°C 39.0°C to ≤ 40.0°C ≥ 40.0°C

(cont)

Systemic (cont from previous page)

Nausea

Vomiting

a

Any

2.9

2.8

Moderate

0.4

0.6

Severe

0.1

0.1

PLT

<0.1

0.0

Any

1.4

1.7

Moderate

0.4

0.5

Severe

<0.1

0.1

PLT

<0.1

0.0

N = number of subjects with safety data.

Moderate: pain, tenderness, myalgia, fatigue, headache, arthralgia, chills, nausea, vomiting defined as “some limitation in normal daily activity”, diarrhea defined as “4 to 5 stools a day”.

b

Severe: pain, tenderness, myalgia, fatigue, headache, arthralgia, chills, nausea, vomiting defined as “unable to perform normal daily activity”, diarrhea defined as “6 or more watery stools a day”.

c

Potentially life threatening (PLT) reaction defined as requiring emergency room visit or hospitalization.

d

Unsolicited Adverse Events (AEs): The clinical safety of FLUAD was assessed in fifteen (15) randomized, controlled studies. The total safety population in these trials included 10,952 adults 65 years of age and older, comprising 5,754 who received FLUAD and 5,198 who received other US licensed influenza vaccines.

The percentage of subjects with an unsolicited AE within 30 days following vaccination was similar between vaccine groups (16.9% FLUAD vs. 18.0% active comparator).

Serious Adverse Events (SAEs) and Deaths: In Study 1, in which subjects were followed for SAEs and deaths for one year following vaccination (N=3,545 FLUAD, N=3,537 AGRIFLU), the percentages of subjects with an SAE were similar between vaccine groups (7% FLUAD vs. 7% AGRIFLU). Four SAEs (1 FLUAD and 3 AGRIFLU) were assessed as related to study vaccination over one year of observation and 2 of these occurred (1 FLUAD and 1 AGRIFLU) within 21 days following study vaccination. There were 98 deaths (n=52 FLUAD, n=46 AGRIFLU) over one year of which none occurred within the first 21 days following vaccination.

In 14 additional randomized, controlled studies, SAEs were collected over a 3 to 4-week period in 4 studies, over a 8-week period in 1 study, and over a 6-month period in 9 studies (N= 2,209 FLUAD, N=1,661 US licensed influenza vaccines). The percentages of subjects with an SAE within 30 days (1.1% FLUAD vs. 1.8% AGRIFLU) or within 6 months (4.3% FLUAD vs. 5.9% AGRIFLU) were similar between vaccine groups. The percentages of deaths within 30 days (0.3% FLUAD vs. 0.6% active comparator) or within 6 months (1.0% FLUAD vs. 1.5% active comparator) were also similar.

Adverse Events of Special Interest (AESIs): Rates of new onset neuroinflammatory and immune mediated diseases were assessed in a post hoc analysis of the 15 randomized controlled studies over the time periods specified above for SAEs. The percentage of subjects with an AESI at any time after vaccination was similar between vaccine groups (0.9% FLUAD vs. 0.9% active comparator).

There were no notable imbalances for specific AESIs. Safety of Annual Revaccination: In 5 of the randomized, controlled trials, subjects were followed for SAEs and deaths for 6 months following revaccination (N=492 FLUAD, N=330 US licensed and non-US licensed influenza vaccines). After the second annual vaccination, the percentages of subjects with an SAE were similar between vaccine groups (6.1% FLUAD vs.

5.5% comparator influenza vaccines); 23 deaths (n=17 FLUAD, n=6 comparator influenza vaccines) were reported. Causes of death included cardiovascular events, malignancy, trauma, gastrointestinal disorders, and respiratory failure. Clinical characteristics of the deaths, including the variable causes, timing since vaccination, and underlying medical conditions, do not provide evidence for a causal relationship with FLUAD. 6.2 Postmarketing Experience The following adverse events have been spontaneously reported during post-approval use of FLUAD in Europe and other regions since 1997.

Because these events are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to the vaccine.

Blood and lymphatic system disorders: Thrombocytopenia (some cases were severe with platelet counts less than 5,000 per mm3), lymphadenopathy General disorders and administration site conditions: Extensive swelling of injected limb lasting more than one week, injection site cellulitis-like reactions (some cases of swelling, pain, and redness extending more than 10 cm and lasting more than 1 week) Immune system disorders: Allergic reactions including anaphylactic shock, anaphylaxis and angioedema Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders: Muscular weakness Nervous system disorders: Encephalomyelitis, Guillain-Barré Syndrome, convulsions, neuritis, neuralgia, paraesthesia, syncope, presyncope Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders: Generalized skin reactions including erythema multiforme, urticaria pruritus or non-specific rash Vascular disorders: Vasculitis with transient renal involvement

7 DRUG INTERACTIONS 7.1 Concomitant Use With Other Vaccines There are no data to assess the concomitant administration of FLUAD with other vaccines. If FLUAD is to be given at the same time as other injectable vaccine(s), the vaccine(s) should be administered at different injection sites.

Do not mix FLUAD with any other vaccine in the same syringe.

7.2 Concurrent Use With Immunosuppressive Therapies Immunosuppressive or corticosteroid therapies may reduce the immune response to FLUAD.

8 USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS 8.1 Pregnancy Pregnancy Category B: A reproductive and developmental toxicity study has been performed in rabbits with a dose level that was approximately 15 times the human dose based on body weight. The study revealed no evidence of impaired female fertility or harm to the fetus due to FLUAD. There are, however, no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.

Because animal reproduction studies are not always predictive of human response, this vaccine should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed.

In a reproductive and developmental toxicity study, the effect of FLUAD on embryo-fetal and post-natal development was evaluated in pregnant rabbits. Animals were administered FLUAD by intramuscular injection twice prior to gestation, during the period of organogenesis (gestation day 7) and later in pregnancy (gestation day 20), 0.5 mL (45 mcg)/rabbit/occasion (approximately 15-fold excess relative to the adult human dose based on body weight). No adverse effects on mating, female fertility, pregnancy, embryo-fetal development, or post-natal development were observed. There were no vaccine-related fetal malformations or other evidence of teratogenesis.

8.4 Pediatric Use The safety and effectiveness of FLUAD in the pediatric population has not been established.

8.5 Geriatric Use Safety and immunogenicity of FLUAD have been evaluated in adults 65 years of age and older. [See Adverse Reactions (6.1) and Clinical Studies (14)] FLUAD is a registered trademark of Seqirus Inc. Manufactured by: Seqirus Vaccines Limited, An affiliate of: Seqirus Inc., Holly Springs, NC 27540, USA 1-855-358-8966

JUMP BALL

BY DARRYL HOWERTON #21 FIRST FIVE

5

DEJOUNTE

MURRAY

The state of Washington has a solid rep for producing explosive offensive players—Jamal Crawford, Jason Terry, Isaiah Thomas, Zach LaVine —between the four, you have a handful of 50-point games, dazzling dribbling displays, a Slam Dunk crown and a quartet of excellent one-on-one isolation ballers. But when it comes to defense, well, let’s just say they’re a little behind.

The same knock once applied to Dejounte Murray.

As the latest NBA product to come out of the Pacific Northwest,1 Murray was expected to continue the lineage of offensively-inclined guards2 from the region.

But as San Antonio Spurs fans can attest, head coach Gregg Popovich and GM R.C. Buford don’t eliminate prospects because of what they can’t do; they draft young men because of what they can do.

So once sold, the Spurs used the 29th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft to select Murray and began his on-the-job training in both San Antonio and on the Austin Spurs G-League circuit.3 But it was not until the playoffs in last year’s West Finals, when first Tony Parker, and then Kawhi Leonard, went down with injuries that the basketball world finally took notice of the stringy guard from the University of Washington.

When the 2017 postseason dust had settled, Murray left a memorable showing for his 20-year-old self, averaging 6 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals in 15 minutes per game, seeing action in 11 of San Antonio’s 16 playoff games.

Since that time, during his 2017-18 NBA regular season, Murray has continued to elevate his play, starting in seven of the Spurs’ first nine games in the absence of the injured Parker. As a 21-year-old now, Murray is averaging 8 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists in 24 minutes per game.4 He is doing all this while also playing the type of suffocating defense on smallish point guards that has the Spurs imagining a perimeter defensive line that features wingspan wonders Murray, Danny Green and Leonard.5 And breaking from script of Washington players.

BONUS POINTS 1. Some other notable Washington NBA players include: John Stockton, Brandon Roy, Nate Robinson, Marvin Williams, Rodney Stuckey, Spencer Hawes, Doug Christie, Paul Mokeski and Martell Webster.

2. DraftExpress wrote of Murray before he entered the 2016 NBA Draft: “He doesn’t put much effort into [defense] at this stage of his career, as he has poor fundamentals and isn’t particularly attentive either.”

3. Murray played 15 games for the Spurs’ Austin G-League team in 2016-17; he also logged 38 games and 322 minutes with the San Antonio Spurs, starting eight times in the 2016-17 NBA regular season.

4. Murray’s Player Efficiency Rating has risen all the while too, going from 9.6 as a rookie (2016-17) to 12.7 in the playoffs to 13.4 this season.

5. Green earned 2016-17 All-Defense honors last season, while Leonard is a two-time Defensive Player of the Year and four-time All-D honoree.

POINT GUARD - SAN ANTONIO SPURS 019 BRIAN BABINEAU/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

020

ISIAH THOMAS AND ADRIAN DANTLEY vs. RUSSELL WESTBROOK AND KEVIN DURANT In the ’80s, the Detroit Pistons scratched and clawed their way to respectability in the NBA and ultimately to back-to-back NBA Championships in 1989 and 1990. But how they won those titles has always rubbed Dantley, a Hall of Famer, the wrong way. Dantley was the man in Utah, but once he got to Detroit, he had to take a back seat to “Zeke,” Isiah Thomas, the Pistons’ dynamic All-Star point guard. Despite their immense individual talent, the two stars did not and could not get along with each other. Forty-two games into Dantley’s third season in Detroit, he was traded to the Dallas Mavericks for Mark Aguirre, Thomas’ best friend from their days growing up in Chicago, robbing Dantley of an opportunity to win a championship or two. “If I was kissing Isiah’s [butt], I would have never got traded,” Dantley has been quoted as saying. Don’t expect these two to be sending birthday or Christmas cards to each other any time soon, or ever.

Westbrook and Durant were probably the most polarizing superstar teammates since Kobe and Shaq. The duo helped turn the Oklahoma City Thunder into a Finals team in just their fourth season together, and they were so good individually that it created a nonstop debate centered on whose team it was. The two were always complimentary of one another publicly, but behind the scenes, a quiet beef was brewing. After Durant left, Westbrook began a passive-aggressive stance toward his former MVP teammate. There was Westbrook posting a picture of cupcakes on Fourth of July, the same day Durant announced his decision to join the Golden State Warriors, the team that had just overcome the Thunder’s 3-1 Western Conference Finals lead. And then there was Westbrook trolling Durant by wearing an orange “Official Photographer” smock. This was more petty than personal, but hilarious at times. The elevation of social media and the sub-shots means Russ and KD advance.

JASON KIDD, JIM JACKSON AND JAMAL MASHBURN vs.

KEVIN GARNETT, RAY ALLEN, PAUL PIERCE AND RAJON RONDO The “Three J’s” were supposed to usher in a revolution in Dallas and the NBA in the mid-90s.

Unfortunately, the trio would play just two and a half seasons together before all three would be traded away within months of each other, allegedly over a rift over R&B superstar Toni Braxton.

Legend goes that Braxton stood up Kidd one night to hang out with Jackson— who vehemently denies the story—which caused the beef between the two young stars. Mashburn co-signed Jackson, saying the popular narrative isn’t the real story, but does not deny that Braxton—who just married Birdman, by the way—was at the root of the talented core being dismantled.

After playing in two Finals and winning an NBA Championship, Ray Allen decided to leave Boston to join LeBron James and Dwyane Wade in Miami, their rivals at the time. He instantly became a pariah with the Celtics’ remaining stars Pierce, Garnett and Rondo. Allen’s former backcourt mate, Rondo, especially took umbrage to the defection. In the first meeting between the two teams with Allen wearing red and black, neither Garnett, Pierce or Rondo acknowledged him during the pregame pleasantries. It was a frosty relationship that has lasted for five years and counting. While Pierce and Allen have made amends recently on Instagram, it doesn’t look as if Garnett or Rondo will be as forgiving.

The Celtic fracture moves on to the next round.

The NBA has had some dynamic duos over the history of the League. Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson and Lew Alcindor (he wasn’t Kareem Abdul-Jabbar then), Larry Bird and Kevin McHale, and of course, Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. Having two great players on the same team gets fans excited, helps franchises become relevant, and in some cases, delivers championships. But sometimes, greatness that has been paired together doesn’t always work out for the best. Whether it be due to ego, personality clashes or front office interference, breakups can and do happen in the NBA. We decided to take a look at some of the most memorable dynamic duos who, for whatever reason, weren’t meant to be.

FEUDS

PLAYER

GREATEST

JUMP BALL BRACK-IT

EIGHT THINGS. ONE UNDISPUTED CHAMP.

SHAQUILLE O’NEAL AND PENNY HARDAWAY vs. SHAQUILLE O’NEAL AND KOBE BRYANT Shaq and Penny were supposed to be the next Magic and Kareem in Orlando, starring on a team that had the talent and potential to push the Chicago Bulls for Eastern Conference supremacy in the mid-90s. The so-called feud between the two was never about anything personal, it was business. Shaq was destined to become one of the greatest NBA centers of all time, but Penny was an accidental superstar. Nobody expected his star to shine as bright as Shaq’s, but it did. Sharing the basketball was never a problem for this duo, it was that the spotlight that wasn’t big enough, which is why Shaq finagled his way west to Los Angeles to play for the Lakers—where, ironically, he was still forced to share the spotlight with a teammate just as popular and impactful as he was. In the 30for30 documentary “This Magic Moment,” Hardaway said the championships Shaq won with Kobe should have been his, making it clear that hurt will never go away.

Kobe and Shaq dominated the Western Conference, and the NBA, as one of the greatest one-two punch combinations of all time. They singlehandedly returned the Lakers to prominence in the League, and were part of a bonafide dynasty. But ego was a major issue between these two. Kobe always resented being seen as a sidekick and wanted the Lakers to be his team, and Shaq never missed an opportunity to remind Bean that as long as he was on the squad, he would never be the big dog. This led to slick jabs at one another in the media and culminated with a fight in practice. Shaq was later traded to the Miami Heat where he won his title and asked Kobe how his [expletive] tasted. Meanwhile, The Black Mamba would go on to appear in three straight Finals as the man in LA, winning two championships and remarking that his fifth ring meant that he had “one more than Shaq.”

Touché.

Shaq’s feud with a dynamic guard sequel was better than the original.

No team was more exciting to watch in the late-‘90s than the Minnesota Timberwolves with Garnett and Marbury. Steph and KG had the game and the swag to go with it, on and off the court. The two young stars seemed poised to be one of the great duos in NBA history until money changed everything. When Garnett signed his six-year, $128 million contract, Marbury felt he was good enough to make the same amount of money, but he knew he couldn’t do it in Minnesota. So he forced his way out to New Jersey to play for the Nets. Steph never did make KG money, and his NBA career, while solid, was never as good as Garnett’s. We’ll never know how far Steph and KG could’ve taken the Timberwolves, but for the two full seasons they were together, it was fun to watch.

When LeBron left Miami to come back and play for the Cleveland Cavaliers, he said his sons were happy that he would get to play with Kyrie Irving. It would only take two years for LeBron and Kyrie to win a championship in Cleveland, and it looked as if the two AllStars would play in many more Finals together. Buf after losing to the Golden State Warriors for the second time in three years, Irving decided he wanted out of Cuyahoga County. What followed the Irving news was a series of passive-aggressive social media posts, and evasive media interviews that left more questions than answers. The Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers played on opening night and there seemed to be no hard feelings between LeBron and Kyrie, but their breakup is one that people will talk about for a long time.

It’s still a mystery as to why Irving wanted to splinter the partnership with LeBron, adding to its intrigue—and with it, a trip to the next round.

KEVIN GARNETT AND STEPHON MARBURY vs.

LEBRON JAMES AND KYRIE IRVING

BY BRYAN CRAWFORD #26

LAYNE MURDOCH (2); ANDREW D. BERNSTEIN (2); DICK RAPHAEL; ROCKY WIDNER (2); SAM FORENCICH; DAVID LIAM KYLE/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

021

WESTBROOK AND DURANT vs. SHAQ AND KOBE It’s always interesting to hear what NBA players truly think, instead of canned, carefully scripted answers. Westbrook is far less politically correct and buttoned up than Durant is, so when he tweeted that he felt like he couldn’t win a title playing with Russ, it was the first time we saw that KD really didn’t believe in his team or the Thunder organization.

Had he decided to stay in OKC, the team may have been just treading water, and it would’ve been very hard for them to get past Golden State and finally break through. The split worked out for them individually, however. Westbrook became the second player to average a triple-double for a season and won MVP, while Durant won a ring and took home Finals MVP. There’s really no reason to think about what could have been with this duo, and they’re obviously in better situations apart than together.

Kobe and Shaq played in four Finals together and won three of them. But with those two alone, the Lakers had a squad that would’ve been good enough to challenge Pat Riley and Magic Johnson’s legendary Finals run in the 80s. They made the Lakers into one of the most dominant teams in League history. Even though winning three championships together after playing for the title four times is an accomplishment that shouldn’t be overlooked, most basketball fans would agree Michael Jordan’s six championships could’ve been surpassed had these two gotten along and stayed together. Shaq was entering the end of his prime, but Kobe was still peaking as a player. It was a time of parity in the NBA, and Shaq and Kobe individually won three of the six championships after the divorce. It would not be a stretch to think that three more titles as a duo was within grasp. It’s one of sport’s greatest feuds and one of the most-pondered what-ifs, one that might’ve altered how we view the NBA’s greatest teams and players.

SHAQ AND KOBE vs. GARNETT, PIERCE, RONDO AND ALLEN They say that time heals all wounds, and that is true in the case of Kobe and Shaq.

Both have been very complimentary of one another the last several years. Shaq even sat courtside and watched Kobe drop 60 points in his final NBA game. Regardless, their breakup might be arguably the greatest “what if” story in the history of the NBA. How many championships could they have won together if they’d gotten along during their Laker days? It’s one of those fun things to think about because you know the answer to that question is simple: a lot.

Ray Allen has one more title than Garnett, Pierce and Rondo, and winning it with LeBron James in Miami will always leave a sour taste in the mouth of KG. And even though Pierce has made amends with him, there will never be any love lost between Allen and Rondo. This is one of those feuds that will most likely continue for years, but from a basketball standpoint, the Celtics had peaked as a team and Allen ultimately made the right decision for himself and his career by leaving.

Kobe and Shaq to the finals.

KOBE AND SHAQ

GREATEST FUED:

There might be four Finals appearances and one championship between these duos, but the real angle in comparing these breakups is how social media was used in hyping up the discord. After news of Irving’s trade request came out over the summer, LeBron posted “Never let another ride your wave” on Twitter, followed a few weeks later by an Instagram story of him working out with Kevin Love at UCLA. Clips of Irving’s First Take interview went viral, especially the one where he said he didn’t need to discuss why he wanted to be traded with LeBron James, fueling speculation there was a personal rift between the two.

Westbrook’s Fourth of July cupcake jab was certainly not missed by Durant. After the Warriors won the championship and Durant took home Finals MVP, he wore a cupcake cap to JaVale McGee’s celebrity softball game, and photos spread across social media like wildfire. But KD got a little sloppy with his Internet trolling when it was discovered he had a burner Twitter account that he used to rip the Thunder organization, Billy Donovan and the team itself. The tweet, “KD can’t win a championship with those cats,” prompted Russ to wear an “Adopt a cat” t-shirt in a TV interview that sent the Twitterverse wild with speculation. For two guys who say they’ve squashed their beef, they’re still engaging in next level pettiness that you just have to appreciate.

Time will tell if the alleged LeBron-Kyrie rift will grow, but for now, the ongoing Russ and KD drama is in the finals.

WESTBROOK AND DURANT vs. JAMES AND IRVING

JUMP BALL BRACK-IT

022

ANDREW D. BERNSTEIN (4); TERRENCE VACCARO; NATHANIEL S. BUTLER; GREGORY SHAMUS/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

BY JIM EICHENHOFER #12

27 JUSUF

NURKIC

CENTER - PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS

FIRST FIVE

The first time it happened, Jusuf Nurkic had to do a double-take. Prior to a Portland home game in March, when the 7-foot center was introduced as a starter, the Trail Blazers’ PA announcer did so in Nurkic’s native Bosnian language.

“He came up with the idea and asked me how to say (details including height, weight and position in Bosnian), so I helped him practice it,” says Nurkic, who enjoys the unique intro, which has been well-received in his home country.1 “But it still surprised me so much. At first, I was like, ‘Did I hear that right?’ ” NBA fans everywhere had a similar reaction last spring when they learned how much damage the trade-deadline pickup was doing in the paint for his new team. After frequently receiving DNPs in his final weeks with the Denver Nuggets, Nurkic generated regular double-doubles for the Blazers, including putting up a 28-point, 20-rebound, eight-assist line vs. Philadelphia. Not bad for a guy who was barely mentioned among the players who changed teams in mid-February.2 “I just got an opportunity to play,” Nurkic explains of his post-trade surge. “When you come to a new team and you know you’re going to play, it’s your time and you have to show what you’ve got.”3 The man whose Twitter handle is “Bosnian Beast”4 didn’t take long to demonstrate what he could bring to the Blazers, who quickly recognized how Nurkic complements the elite backcourt of Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum.5 “I feel as soon as the first practice [after the trade deadline], they saw that I could help them,” Nurkic says. “The coaching staff, my teammates, everyone here, they really accepted me right away and welcomed me extremely well.”

In two languages.

BONUS POINTS 1. Nurkic is one of five active NBA players who were born in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The others are Dragan Bender, Bojan Bogdanovic, Mirza Teletovic and Ivica Zubac.

2. Denver dealt Nurkic and a first-round pick to Portland in exchange for Mason Plumlee and a second-round pick.

3. It only took Portland one game to realize Nurkic needed to be promoted to the starting five. He’s remained there since.

4. According to Basketball-Reference.com, you may also use the nickname “Bosnian Bear,” even though the burly Nurkic dropped 35 pounds in the offseason, in order to get into optimal shape.

5. The backcourt duo was often spectacular in a firstround playoff series vs. Golden State, but significantly missed the presence of Nurkic, who missed three of the four games due to injury.

023 CAMERON BROWNE/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

JUMP BALL HEAD 2 HEAD

Giannis Antetokounmpo vs.

Kevin Durant Kevin Durant, at age 29, is at the peak of his athletic career, already recognized as one of the game’s all-time greats.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, who just turned 23, is entering his athletic prime, perhaps recognized as the best young player in basketball today.

However, if you were to silhouette the two in a photograph, their body frames would look nearly identical.

Even though Durant seems to be using height measurements from a decade ago in his official listings (6-9, 240 pounds), and Antetokounmpo is still using his teenage weight (6-11, 222 pounds), these men both seem cut from the same cloth.

In the NBA world, they are genetic twins—real-life, giant point forwards with freakish guard skills.

Both possibly stand in at 7 feet tall, while also possessing the ballhandling and scoring talents of men named Jordan, Kobe and D-Wade, who all played the game a half-foot shorter than these elongated offspring.

Most telling of all, each is a fan of the other. For years, Antetokounmpo would literally stare down Durant in pregame warmups, not to intimidate, but to replicate what his hero was doing to get ready for games.

The mutual admiration has been well reciprocated, with Durant taking to his YouTube channel to congratulate Antetokounmpo for winning the 2016-17 NBA Most Improved Player award, while also proclaiming The Greek Freak as a future NBA MVP. Durant also said, in a later October 2017 video, that the young Buck is his favorite player to watch and may go down one day as the NBA’s greatest player ever.

Giannis Antetokounmpo Forward, 6-11, 222 pounds Milwaukee Bucks Durant

Antetokounmpo

G

11

10

MPG

35.2

37.2

PPG

24.8

31.9

RPG

7.7

9.8

APG

5.0

4.8

TOPG

3.4

3.7

BPG

2.5

1.7

SPG

0.5

1.5

FT%

.860

.785

2FG%

.571

.631

3FG%

.464

.333

3sPG

2.9

0.7

PER

25.2

32.8

Stats as of November 8, 2017 Key: G games; MPG minutes per game; PPG points per game; APG assists per game; RPG rebounds per game; TOPG turnovers per game; SPG steals per game; FT% free throw percentage; 2FG% two-point field goal percentage; 3FG% three-point percentage; 3sPG threepointers per game; PER Player Efficiency Rating; RPM Real Plus-Minus.

024

01 Scoring: Durant wins this category, hands down. And this, by no means, is a reflection of Antetokounmpo’s rapidly-rising scoring skills. It’s just that Durant has a 27.2 career scoring average that leads all active NBA players and also ranks fourth all-time in NBA history books, trailing only Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor. Throw in Durant’s five scoring titles, and also consider his scoring sacrifice on the 2017 NBA champion Warriors, where he tallied only 25.1 points in 33.1 minutes per game on a career-best .651 true shooting percentage last season ... and, well, nobody today is topping Durant in this category.

Not even an up-and-comer like Antetokounmpo, who has seen his scoring skyrocket in each of his first four NBA seasons (6.8 points in 24.6 minutes per game in 2013-14; 12.7 in 31.4 in 2014-15; 16.9 in 35.3 in 2015-16; 22.9 in 35.6 in 2016-17).

Advantage: Durant

02 Floor Game: Bucks head coach Jason Kidd made Antetokounmpo his point guard last year—really, point forward—because Kidd wanted the ball in the youngster’s hands more, and the results showed immediately.

Antetokounmpo’s usage rate rose six percentage points—up to 28.3 percent—meaning Antetokounmpo now handled the ball slightly more than even Durant did as a new Warrior (KD saw his usage rate drop from an NBA-high 33.0 percent during his 2013-14 MVP season to last year’s 27.8 percent). With the extra load upon his shoulders, Antetokounmpo became more of a playmaker (26.6 assist percentage; 13.3 turnover percentage) ala Durant (23.1 assist percentage; 10.4 turnover percentage), a great asset to his offense (Antetokounmpo, +2.35 offensive Real Plus-Minus in 2016-17; Durant, +4.41 ORPM), and maintained elite efficiency all the while (Antetokounmpo, 26.13 Player Efficiency Rating; Durant, 27.68 PER).

Advantage: Tie

BY DARRYL HOWERTON #21

03

Defense: Though Antetokounmpo has already been recognized as an All-Defense performer (2016-17 Second Teamer) and Durant has not...and even though Antetokounmpo has a slightly better defensive RPM than Durant (+1.86 and +1.33)...it would be premature to cast the younger one as the better defender than Durant, whose defense really started to shine in Oklahoma City in 2015-16 and rose to the next level with Golden State in 2016-17. Warriors assistant Ron Adams, the greatest assistant coach in the game today, according to annual NBA general manager surveys, will vouch for that statement, saying Durant’s rim-protection skills were just as vital as Draymond Green’s and the other centers’ contributions on the defensive end, where the Warriors ranked second during their 2017 NBA championship season.

Advantage: Tie

Kevin Durant

Forward, 6-9, 240 pounds Golden State Warriors 04 Leadership: Durant’s decision to leave Oklahoma City was widely criticized in NBA circles, but his decision to leave after nine years of valuable service spoke of a different kind of leadership when management fails you. After all, Durant helped build the Oklahoma City Thunder brand from the ground up as a Seattle Sonic transplanted team. He helped lead the OKC Thunder to the 2012 Finals, along with head coach Scott Brooks, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Thabo Sefolosha, Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins. However, management slowly dismantled that dynastic team, and by 2016, only Durant and Westbrook remained on the roster. So when KD signed with Golden State, officially ending that era, Durant actually was not leaving the team he helped build. That team already had left Durant. No, KD was showing sometimes a leader does not have to put up with management when they’ve rid themselves of nearly everything he helped build. Sometimes leaders leave.

Advantage: Durant

05 Intangibles: When one compares 22-year-old Giannis to 22-year-old Kevin, one can tangibly see how the Buck All-Star one day can surpass the former Thunder All-Star, if his current rates of improvement are factored into the equation. After all, Durant at the same age, in his fourth NBA season, was posting a 23.6 PER in 2010-11 following a 26.2 PER in 2009-10, which is in line with Antetokounmpo’s numbers. But Antetokounmpo’s rise has been more meteoric, with four-year efficiency increases from 10.8 to 14.8 to 18.8 to 26.1 PERs that foretell an even higher ceiling. Only time will tell for sure, but the young Buck’s future does indeed look brighter.

Advantage: Antetokounmpo

The Verdict Who is better between Durantula and The Greek Freak? There is no question KD, a half dozen years older, has the head start on historic accomplishments, already amassing enough hardware to ensure his Hall-of-Fame career: 2013-14 NBA MVP; 2017 NBA Finals MVP; 7 All-NBA awards; 8 All-Star Games. But Antetokounmpo, who just enjoyed his first All-NBA and All-Star campaign after his fourth NBA season, seemingly has no ceiling to his game and already is putting up mirror-image statistics to his predecessor (Durant, 25.1 points; 8.3 rebounds; 4.8 assists; 1.6 blocks; 1.1 steals in 33.4 minutes per game, and Antetokounmpo, 22.9 points; 8.8 rebounds; 5.4 assists; 1.9 blocks; 1.6 steals in 35.6 minutes per game).

Right now, their matchup is just about as good as it can get. Call it The Remix versus The Blueprint. Young Buck versus Old Warrior.

Prime versus Peak. Pupil versus Professor. Call it what you want. But we’re going to give this 2017-18 NBA matchup to Durant, even though others may believe it is just too close to call.

JACK ARENT; NOAH GRAHAM (2); GARY DINEEN/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

025

JUMP BALL CATCHING UP

WITH

BERNARD KING

For a too-brief period in the mid-1980s, Bernard King enchanted New York Knicks fans. Basketball aficionados know the Hall of Famer’s feats: 60 points on Christmas Day 1984 against the Nets. That ungodly ’84 playoff series against Detroit, where King averaged 42.6 points per game (with dislocated fingers on both hands). That unstoppable turnaround jumper. That devastating 1985 knee injury in Kansas City—and his return to All-Star form in 1991.

As he prepared to promote his stirring memoir, Game Face (www.gamefacebook.net), King was relishing another accomplishment: his appearance at Barnes & Noble in New York’s Union Square.

“You have no idea what that means for a kid from Brooklyn, how meaningful it is to me, for a guy who had his first English paper marked up in college,” King says.

HOOP talked to King about his basketball past—and how it serves his future.

HOOP: In reading your book, it’s clear that you felt joy being on a basketball court. When do you feel that way now?

Bernard King: Playing basketball has a joy that cannot be compared to anything else in life. Just as the birth of a child can’t be compared to anything in life, and as getting married can’t be compared to anything else in life. Falling in love can’t compare to anything else.

The joy that you feel on a basketball court is the freedom that exists. You’re out of the boundaries of anything else that’s happening in your life individually, anything that’s happening in the room 026

at that present moment. You’re lost within the beauty and the joy of playing the game of basketball or just shooting baskets alone, whether you’re practicing, whether you’re training. Whatever it is that you’re doing at that moment within the spectrum of basketball. That is the greatest joy that there is.

That’s very poetic for me. That’s why I write poetry.

It’s truly something that will be lasting, and longlasting, for the rest of my life. I can close my eyes right now and picture myself running down the lefthand side of the floor of Madison Square Garden.

I can close my eyes right now I can see that as I speak to you: Being out there on the basketball court opposite the building I grew up in. I can see all of that.

Those images and those times are ingrained in my psyche for the rest of my life.

HOOP: Is playing basketball still a part of your life?

BK: I see a great game in my mind’s eye and I talk a great game. [laughs] Do I actually go out on the court to play? No, I do not. Now, if someone wants to pay me $200 million, I’ll try to turn back the hands of time. [laughs] HOOP: How do you think you would have fared in today’s game?

BK: I would have fared very well. Simply put the game is more wide-open today than it’s ever been.

That would have fit very well within my own skill set, because I was a very unique type of player. You could not post up every small forward in the League. You could not put every small forward on the perimeter.

You could not ask every small forward in the League to handle the ball in transition. You could not ask every small forward in the League to play in transition and be dominant in transition. So my game would have fared very well, and I would’ve been the same type of player I was throughout my entire career.

HOOP: You write a lot about Julius Erving, but was there another player who forced you to raise your game?

BK: Dr. J was always my measuring stick. However, when you face a great, great player, you know that for your team to be successful that night—and for you individually within the team concept to be successful against that team—then you have to raise your game to another level against that team and that player.

And that’s not something that you look to do every single night. What I prided myself on was playing with consistency. I didn’t play up. I didn’t play down. But if I needed to go to another level, I was always capable of doing that. I played against 51 Hall of Famers during my career. And a great many of those 51 players were at my position. [laughs] So nightly—nightly—you had to be at a very high level. And then there were nights when you had to raise your game because that great player was on a great team.

HOOP: In retirement, what does basketball give you?

BK: It gives me satisfaction that I helped to contribute

to the growth of the game of basketball as it exists today. And that in some way, I played a small part in the popularity of the game, the growth of the game, the understanding of the game and the joy that only basketball can bring.

Basketball is uniquely different than any other sport in the world. It’s the only sport you can play by yourself. You can learn to pass to yourself. You can rebound by yourself. You can shoot by yourself. You can score by yourself. You can do defensive footwork too, by yourself. You can do all these things that correlate to the game itself. There are many things you can take away from the game that help you in many ways. In terms of how I viewed my life and how I look at my childhood to my maturity, I think that’s a story that speaks to a great many people—about finding their own inner strength. And the spirit I had within my heart, to be able to elevate myself from Fort Greene [Brooklyn, King’s hometown] to elevating myself from coming back from injury and the determination I had to overcome all those things—and always looking beyond where I was.

HOOP: Do you think when players leave the game, they have the wherewithal that you have now?

BK: The qualities that made me successful as an athlete came from within; and those qualities are part of who I am, Bernard, for the rest of my life. They’re not going to go away. I’m always constantly building and growing and learning. And that growth will always continue because I embrace that change as something one should always embrace and find within.

So, I can’t really speak for anyone else. What I do know is that I never perceived myself as an athlete.

I perceived myself as someone that had great perspective as it relates to the game of basketball, and was willing to put in all the time and the work and the effort and the study to understand my craft and build it to a level where I could be pleased about it, and build to a level where I could compete against the finest and compete on the highest level of the game itself. That was self-motivation, and I have that for anything that I do in life. That’s just part of my being.

PETE CROATTO #20 NATHANIEL S. BUTLER; GARRETT ELLWOOD/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

BY MELODY HOFFMAN#34

FIRST FIVE

Domantas Sabonis has been eager to put to use some of the fatherly1 advice2 he receives from is dad, Hall of Famer Arvydas Sabonis. And now in his sophomore season, the younger Sabonis has been able to do just that.

“I know what he’s been through and if I want to be even close to how good he was then I have to do what he’s telling me,” the Pacers’ 6-10 center says about his Pops. “A lot of times when [my dad] watches me play he tells me to be more aggressive and don’t be scared to try new things out, and I think that’s helped me.”

Playing for a new team this season,3 with new teammates, it’s only fitting that Sabonis has been successful in a new role.

Alongside Victor Oladipo and Thaddeus Young, Sabonis’ defense and versatility has been valuable, particularly when setting screens and finishing strong off the pick-and-roll. The 21-yearold says he also is becoming more comfortable spotting up for the pick-and-pop. His ease on the court could be translated through his numbers: Sabonis already has more double-doubles this season than he did his entire rookie year.4 The 2016 lottery pick5 is averaging 13.3 points and 9.5 rebounds and attributes his court efficiency to the special bond he feels with his teammates.

“I think so far with the team, I’ve adjusted easily and quickly.

I came in the summer early with a lot of other guys and after summer league eight to 10 players would be here working out in the morning and then play pick-ups in the afternoon so I think that really helped us with our chemistry. That’s why on the court we’re clicking together.

“With [veteran] Al Jefferson, as a big man, he tries to teach me a new move every now and then and I just try to use it.

Jefferson says, ‘Do everything I do—just with left hand,’”6 Sabonis says laughing. “With Thaddeus Young,7 I started the first couple of games with him this season and playing with him has helped me learn how he guards other bigs and how to position yourself in the right moments. He’s been great since the beginning putting confidence in me.”

BONUS POINTS 1. The younger Sabonis was born in 1996 in Portland between games four and five of the Trail Blazers’ first-round playoff matchup with the Utah Jazz. Arvydas, who is Lithuanian, is now president of the Lithuanian basketball federation.

2. “My dad [tells] me to get a massage daily, sleep, take ice baths, little stuff like that he just likes to remind me,” Sabonis explains. “He’s had many injuries so he’s just scared for me to get anything. In this League there are so many games and all the traveling, if you’re not ready, you’re not going to be able to perform as well.”

3. In July, the Pacers traded four-time All Star Paul George to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Sabonis and Victor Oladipo.

4. Through mid-November, Sabonis had five double-doubles. Last season, he finished with two, and he averaged 5.9 points and 3.6 rebounds in 20.1 minutes.

5. Orlando selected Sabonis out of Gonzaga with the 11th pick in 2016 and then traded his rights along with Oladipo and Ersan Ilyasova to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Serge Ibaka. Sabonis averaged 17.6 points and 11.8 rebounds in his sophomore season with the Bulldogs. After the draft, he went on to play for Lithuania in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

6. Sabonis is left-handed.

7. Young is a fellow lefty.

11 DOMANTAS

SABONIS

CENTER - INDIANA PACERS 027 GARY DINEEN/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

JUMP BALL

CELEB ROW

JAY ELLIS As part of Insecure, one of the most talked about comedy series on HBO, actor Jay Ellis is garnering high praise for his portrayal of Lawrence, the now ex-boyfriend of the series central character Issa (played by the show’s creator Issa Rae). In a show that explores serious and complex issues with humor and sexiness, Ellis has skillfully depicted Lawrence’s transition from depressed couch potato to young urban professional. Before Insecure, Ellis appeared in BET’s The Game, on which he played a former Stanford University football player gone pro. In real life, Ellis was a student-athlete, who played college hoops at Division II Concordia University in Portland, Oregon. He even did an internship with the Portland Trail Blazers. Before season three of Insecure starts production, Ellis headed to South Africa to work on a film. He also spent time promoting Hard Medicine, a series he co-produced that is streaming on the Urban Movie Channel.

How did you start playing organized basketball?

I started kind of late. I didn’t realize I was tall. In about eight to 10 months, I grew like eight inches and all of a sudden I was like 6-2 in eighth grade. Everyone was like, “You should be playing basketball. You’re giant.” I thought, “I guess I am. I can see the top of all you guys’ heads.” So, I went and tried out for the team. I made the B team and got to start, luckily, on the B team.

Like halfway through the season I got a C in one of my classes. My mom called the coach and said, “I’m sorry, we’ve got to pull him from the team. He got a C and we don’t do that.” At that time I fell in love with basketball so much that I went to my teacher and asked, “Is there any way I can do extra credit 028

to bring my grade up? I really want to stay on the team. We’re good and we might get to play for the city championship.” That was that.

You played basketball in college. Concordia-Oregon is a D II school. What was the level of play like?

I wasn’t that good, but the guys were great. I remember getting there and thinking, “I’m here. I made it. I’m going to come on as a freshman and run the team.” It was very, very far from that.

We would scrimmage against Portland and Portland State. We played usually one or two Division I teams.

The athleticism was great. Guys were strong. They were fast. They were smart. We had guys who went and played in Mexico, Asia, Europe and Australia. For the rest of us, like myself, we realized that we better figure out the rest because basketball wasn’t going to be in our future.

Do you view each acting job with a team mentality?

It’s kind of hard not to. You start to get into that rhythm of the different choices that actors make, and you see how to work together. You’re really listening and becoming in sync and you start to flow and vibe together. It’s this really interesting thing to see come together.

You played shooting guard in college, but when thinking of basketball metaphors for Insecure, the character of Issa is the point guard and Lawrence is the five. He guards the middle and sort of anchors things.

I grew up in the era of Jordan and the three-headed centers. David Robinson always had a strong point guard with him. Karl Malone and John Stockton. Shaq and Kobe and Shaq and Penny. I grew up with seeing a strong guard and a strong big man. I love being the

center in that analogy.

Who were your basketball idols growing up?

I’m sure many sons have this, but I have the idols that my dad loved: Isiah Thomas, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robinson, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, David Robinson, Tim Duncan, Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant. I’m a massive Kobe fan. There are so many guys, especially from the early 90s through the early 2000s, who made me look at basketball in a different way. They elevated the game of basketball in a different way and what it meant to be a leader, a superstar and an athlete turned businessman. The way they valued practice and team and winning.

Was there someone you modeled your game on?

I would like to think Kobe, but I’m sure my college teammates would tell you I was very far from that.

When I was in seventh grade and he was in high school, I got to watch him play one summer in an AAU game and he dropped something like 63, 64, 65 points in this game. Even then I thought, “That’s who I want to be. He’s amazing.” Twenty years later and this amazing storybook career, he’s still the guy whose game I’m always like, “That’s the game I want.

I want to copy that dude’s game.” I also love LeBron’s strength and finesse at the same time. There’s something about his game that’s always been very appealing to me.

During your internship with the Portland Trail Blazers, from the perspective of a basketball enthusiast, how cool was it to see that level of play up close?

Being able for 41 games to be on the court watching those players play and hearing them up close and hearing Maurice Cheeks coach and hearing the fans go crazy as they were 50, 60, 70 rows up in the Rose Garden looking down at the court, that was such an amazing experience. Mo Cheeks set an example and standard of what it was to be a man of integrity.

Getting to watch that was something I hope I never forget and hopefully something I carry with me in everything I do.

How did you get involved with Hard Medicine?

My mom was at church and met someone who knew Melissa Eno Effa, who created it. My mom called me and said, “I think you should check out this project. It’s really great.” I got a chance to sit down with Melissa and talked to her about her vision and where I think I could come in and help her with the project. From there we were off to the races. We were working on edits, sound and tightening—really cracking the story and figuring out how to package it as a series. We put eight amazing episodes together and took them out.

We were able to license them and get them out there for the world to see.

It’s interesting how many different ways people can get their work out. On Insecure, Issa Rae began on YouTube and Yvonne Orji is doing her thing developing her First Gen series. You’re taking your energies onto all these different new platforms.

COURTESY HBO ENTERTAINMENT

CELEB ROW

STICK TO SCRIPT:

JAYLEN BROWN

HOW THE COME-UP CAME UP

Issa is such a big driving force for both Yvonne and I. It’s one of the things we talk about when we gush and love all over her. One of the things we always talk about is how she keeps us so motivated in finding new ways to get stories out there. It doesn’t have to be the traditional model anymore. There are so many ways to get stories seen by millions of people. Issa is a pioneer in cracking that mold. Now we get to go and explore and pay back. I think of all the opportunities I got, people who gave me chances and hired me as an actor. I want to make sure I’m constantly finding ways to pay that forward.

What aspects of putting together Hard Medicine fueled you creatively in a different way than acting has fueled you?

Helping people tell their stories. Helping unique voices that haven’t really had an opportunity to be out there in the world get a chance to shine is what really drives me. There are so many stories. I think of so many friends of mine who have such unique and amazing stories and perspectives and their world has never been shown. One of the things my producing partner and my mom, who produced with me as well, like to say is we like to take worlds that we know and tilt them on their axis and show you a completely different slice of life. It gets us all to open up, see the world a little bit different, hopefully laugh and cry and have this huge range of emotion while we do it.

What’s the dream matchup you’d like to watch courtside?

It’s got to be Golden State-Cleveland.

Has the acclaim Insecure has received scored you courtside seats?

I went to a Clippers game against the Blazers and sat in the second row. That’s as close as I’ve gotten.

I’m still trying to get my feet on the floor. One of the players is going to read this and be like, “We need to get him on the floor.”

LOIS ELFMAN #40 COURTESY HBO ENTERTAINMENT; JESSE D. GARRABRANT/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

The first time I saw you play was at KD’s camp in DC. You were playing very aggressive. Is that when you knew you would be a pro?

I was coming at KD, but I always knew that I could have a chance at becoming a pro. I always felt like that, it’s my confidence level. Going to camps like that and playing against pros—LeBron camp, and KD camp—that’s when I matched up against KD, and possession after possession, it was me versus him, and it was kinda cool, because I never been in a matchup like that with somebody of that stature. He probably wasn’t taking it 100 percent serious, but I was. I was getting after it, and everytime he guarded me, I think I scored. I think I dunked on him and all type of stuff, and people were looking like...wow. I remember that. It was kinda like when I knew, maybe one day I could be one of the best players in this League. Not just in the League. I look at myself just like KD, LeBron, and all the others look at themselves.

Do you recall the first NBA game you attended?

I was 7 years old, and it was the Atlanta Hawks. They weren’t that good. They had Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Jason Terry, and that was my first game. All I wanted for my birthday was to go to an NBA game.

I had just turned 7 and I didn’t want anything else but to go to an NBA game. I don’t know if it was my auntie or my mom...but they made it happen for me.

That was my first game. I was super excited, it meant the world to me.

Who was your favorite player growing up?

Kobe Bryant and Tracy McGrady. I try to carry myself as a wing that can handle the ball, score on all

different levels...also a two-way player that can lock down and have that mentality when the game is on the line to get it done.

What does your gameday preparation look like?

I try to get as locked in as possible. I have a routine and I try to stick to it. I get my rest...taking a nap...and I try to do the things I always do and just focus on one game at a time. That’s all that it really is. One game at a time, and don’t look too far ahead...don’t worry about what happened in the past. Kyrie [Irving] said it today at halftime...he said we have 79 more games.

That’s a lot of basketball, and all I can do is take it one step at a time, and I’ll be all right. I try to get as much recovery as I can because [I’m] guarding the best player on the other team every night and then coming back and scoring the ball...it’s exhausting man. I can feel it today. It’s tough, it’s a whole different type of shape, mentality, and mindset, so going forward that’s what I want to do. I hold myself to that level, coaches hold me to that level, to be able to score the ball and stop guys. Get stops and going forward, I’m going to continue to do that.

When you entered the draft, everyone focused on your intelligence. Can you talk about that?

I think when people see me, they still see that. That’s definitely what my brand is. I’m just trying to be myself. There are certain things I like to read, and discuss, like investments and the school that I went to, California Berkley, that’s all a part of trying to put myself into a position as one who influences, and tries to make this world a better place. That’s what it’s about at the end of the day. I’m putting myself in a position to be a bridge between basketball, social issues, and things that need to be more efficient.

These are the things that I want to be involved in. The cutting edge and the things that are at the forefront, are the things that I’m looking into, through research and I try to come up with different solutions and outcomes. Growing up for me, being smart was looked at as being corny—it’s not cool to read, it’s not cool to turn in your homework on time, it wasn’t cool to answer questions in class—the smart kids were the ones that got picked on. Coming up in high school, I wanted to change that notion. Not only was I popular being a basketball player, everyone looked up to me.

I tried to set the example in the classroom as well. I want being smart, intelligent, holding conversations, and being genuine...I want that to be popular again.

In this reality TV world where everything is fake and social media and things like that, I want it to be cool to be yourself again. Don’t be afraid to be yourself. I’m not, and that’s what I want to show people who are looking up to me.

ANTHONY GILBERT #1 029

12

JUMP BALL

BY JON COOPER #10

TAUREAN

PRINCE

FORWARD - ATLANTA HAWKS

FIRST FIVE

Want to take a flyer on a future All-Star to put stock in?

Atlanta Hawks second-year forward Taurean Prince1 would be a good long shot.

He’s also a good, long passer, a good, long rebounder and a good, long shotblocker.

Actually, just about everything is long for the 23-yearold, second-year pro from San Marcos, Texas, who boasts an 83.5-inch wingspan attached to his 6-8, 220-pound frame, except maybe the time he’ll need to be recognized as an All-Star.

That should be this year, but he can wait.

Patience is the biggest lesson the former Baylor University star,2 member of USA Basketball,3 and first-round pick of the Utah Jazz (12th overall),4 took from his rookie season.

“Patience in everything, whether it be getting on the floor or waiting for my turn to touch the ball to make something happen,” says Prince, who played in 59 games for Atlanta last year, averaging 5.7 points and 2.7 rebounds in 16.6 minutes. “Even patience on the defensive end, not rushing, not moving my feet so I give an advantage on me.”

That patience paid off once he did get into the starting lineup. After a pair of stops in the G-League with the Long Island Nets, Prince started against Brooklyn, on March 26, 2017.5 Prince made the most of his time as a starter over the final 10 games, averaging 11.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.6 assists, then continued to shine in the playoffs, scoring 11.2 points per game—the most for an Atlanta Hawks rookie in a playoff series since “Pistol” Pete Maravich in 1970-71 in the Hawks’ first-round series loss to Washington.

“That’s great company. For me to him—not him to me,” says Prince. “I’m blessed to be able to even be mentioned in the same sentence as him. I’ll just continue to build my legacy here as a Hawk.”

That legacy-building includes making the #12 memorable, not #21, his number in college, as that is retired in honor of Hall of Famer and Hawks vice president of basketball and special advisor to the CEO Dominique Wilkins.6 “That’s somebody I respect to the utmost,” says Prince. “[No.] 21, that’s him. #12 is who I am. I’m glad his jersey number is retired. He definitely deserves it. Now I’m trying to get #12 retired.”

He’s started in that quest, as the offseason departures of veterans small forwards Tim Hardaway, Jr., Thabo Sefolosha, and power forwards Paul Millsap and Kris Humphries opened the door for him. Prince walked through the door and has no plan on leaving the starting lineup any time soon.

“I want to keep my starting spot,” he said. “Coach [Mike Budenholzer] gave me the opportunity and I took full advantage of it. That’s a credit to the coaches that continue to keep working with me and also my teammates who gave me the confidence when I got the spot.”

He plans to continue to work his way into bigger and bigger parts of things in the ATL. “You can’t go from Level 2 to Level 10. You have to take steps and you’ve got to build, you’ve got to develop,” he said.

“Sooner or later everybody will see what type of offense I can bring to the game.”7 Bet on sooner.

BONUS POINTS 1. Taurean is referred to as Waller-Prince in some publications and websites. That is to honor both parents, as Waller is the maiden name of his mom, Tamiyko, while Prince is the surname of his dad, Anthony.

2. Taurean played four seasons at Baylor, helping the Bears to a 95-48 record, three NCAA Tournaments and an NIT Championship. Twice All-Big 12, and National 6th Man of the Year as a junior, he left Waco 13th all-time in scoring (1,321 points), ninth in three-point shooting (37.6 percent) and tied for seventh in games played (129). His 15.9 ppg as a senior led the team and ranked fourth in the Big 12.

3. Prince was on the roster of USA Basketball’s bronze-medal-winning entry in the 2015 Pan America Games. He averaged 10.8 points and 4.4 rebounds per game.

4. Prince’s stay in Utah was short-lived, as he was sent to Atlanta to complete a pre-draft, threeteam deal, also involving Indiana. The Pacers received veteran point Jeff Teague, while the Jazz also got a veteran point from Indy, in George Hill.

5. In his first start on 3/26/17, Prince had 17 points with 7 rebounds, 3 steals and a block.

6. Taurean teamed with Dominique’s nephew, 10-year NBA veteran and current Indiana Pacer Damien Wilkins, at the ‘15 Pan Am Games.

7. After not having a double-double his rookie campaign, Prince recorded two in Atlanta’s first 10 games this season. His first came on opening night at Dallas, going for 10 points and 10 rebounds in the 117-111 win over the Mavericks.

He’d add another on 11/1/17, at Philadelphia, going for 17 and 11 in the Hawks’ 119-109 loss.

He had his first career 20-point game on 10/23 at Miami.

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Air Jordan XXXII Low “Like Mike”

JUMP BALL 24 SECONDS

with DEVIN BOOKER HOOP: We hear you’ve gotten into Call of Duty3 again?

BOOK: I played a lot this summer. The new one just came out and it kind of a mimics the World at War, which was my favorite version back in the day.

HOOP: Do you bring games on the road?

BOOK: If we’re on the road for more than five days, I’ll bring my PS4 with me. I have this little game case with my face on it that 2K sent me.

HOOP: Do your teammates play with you?

BOOK: Not really. I play online, so wherever we go, I hope the Wi-Fi is good.

HOOP: Do NBA fans ever realize you’re online?

BOOK: Sometimes. When I’m playing Call of Duty, I’ll get a message here or there asking, “Are you the real Devin Booker?” But when I’m on 2K, they actually have the NBA logo when I’m in the Run the Neighborhood mode. So I’ll have a barrage of people following me.

HOOP: Do you play against other NBA guys?

BOOK: Me and Ben Simmons used to play a little bit together. I heard Andrew Wiggins is really good, but I haven’t played against him yet.

But mostly just childhood friends.

HOOP: What are your goals this season?

BOOK: For me, the next step is team success. As far as individual success,1 I’ve seen a lot, but I feel like with the teams that win, everybody gets love, playing in sold out arenas and every game means something.

HOOP: How have you improved since your rookie year?

BOOK: The game has just slowed down for me. Most nights I’m getting our opponent’s best defender, which makes it tough. A lot of schemes are different toward me now, but I’ve learned different ways to free myself and get others involved.

HOOP: We heard you were taking Pilates classes to strengthen your core?

BOOK: I did Pilates, a lot of yoga, spin class, changed my diet. Now I have a full-time chef, which has been an investment to my body.

HOOP: Looking back at your 70-point game last season, is that still hard to believe?

BOOK: Yeah. Some people say “You lost the game, so it doesn’t matter.” But the numbers2 don’t lie. My name went down in history...I went to China this summer and everybody was calling me “Mr. 70” [laughs].

HOOP: Think you’ll ever break that?

BOOK: It’s not a goal, but I could see it happening.

HOOP: Have you ever broken 70 in 2K? BOOK: I got it with Carmelo. I scored like 80 or something. But I had to turn fatigue off [laughs].

032

HOOP: You tweeted recently a lyric from Cheat Codes’ song “No Promises:” Lifestyle on the Road. What’s your lifestyle like on the NBA road?

BOOK: I usually know a player on the other team, so I’ll ask what the best restaurant in their city is. I’ll shop a little bit. I’ve always been a big traveler, since I was a kid, getting to go and see my dad overseas.

HOOP: Favorite NBA road cities?

BOOK: I like Toronto a lot. I went to OVO Fest a few times there. New York is always good, LA, the Texas cities are nice. New Orleans, I’ve got a lot of family down there, so it’s a cultural thing for me.

HOOP: If a visiting player asked you what they should see in Phoenix, what would you tell them?

BOOK: Camelback Mountain.

HOOP: We saw your Instagram4 pics of you hiking Camelback.

BOOK: I was on Instagram Live and people were like, ‘You should go to Camelback tomorrow.’ I didn’t know it was an actual hike, though. I thought it was a trail or a path. I was in for a rude awakening.

HOOP: You posted photos with fans on the mountain, and you post pics with fans throughout the year. Why is that important?

BOOK: I don’t want to forget where I came from. I mean, I was one of those fans, where I idolized NBA players... Since I’ve been here, they’ve backed me. As a fan, I would understand if they didn’t. But I would love to change things around for this city.

HOOP: You’ve developed a fan following in Mexico City, too.

BOOKER: With Phoenix being a Latino city, with a lot of Mexicans here, there was a bunch of support when we went down there. The city was buzzing and I played two really good games5.

My grandfather was Mexican, so that was big for me, getting back to my roots.

BY JERAMIE MCPEEK #4

HOOP: What does it mean to be on the cover of Zucaritas?6 BOOK: It’s crazy. I guess they are making 30 million boxes. Initially it was supposed to just be in Mexico, but now it’s all of Latin America, so it is surreal.

HOOP: You and Tony the Tiger?

BOOK: Tony el Tigre.

HOOP: Back to Instagram. You post a lot of fashion photos.

BOOK: Fashion has always been a big piece of my life. It started with my dad.8 He was living overseas in Italy, so he was wearing the fit jeans before anybody was.

“This is called Euro style.” So my dad always has fashion advice for me. When I’m getting suited and booted, I go to him with different color combinations.

HOOP: How would you describe your style?

BOOK: Pretty simple. Neutral colors. Not too flashy. Sometimes I’ll make a statement with some funky shoes or outfits that are off the wall. But mostly clean cut.

HOOP: Are your Kobe shoes still in a safe, or are they on display yet?

BOOK: I’m working on it. I’ve got my 70-point shoes. I’ve got some Dirk Nowitzki signed shoes. He gave me a pair of his original, game-worn shoes! And obviously the Kobe “Be Legendary” shoes.9 Those all mean a lot to me.

HOOP: Anybody else you want?

BOOK: Eventually. Chris Paul is one. Lebron James, I grew up idolizing. D-Wade for sure, Carmelo...I’ll be collecting shoes from those players I respect.

HOOP: There’s a billboard across from the Suns’ arena, celebrating the team’s 50th anniversary. It has you in the center, surrounded by Phoenix legends.10 How does that feel?

BOOK: I don’t feel right being up there, honestly. I see Steve Nash and Charles Barkley, these guys are Hall of Famers. I get to drive in and see it every day, and it’s a reminder that you have to keep pushing. You can’t ever be satisfied.

BONUS POINTS 1. Booker led the Suns with 22.1 points per game in his sophomore NBA season, the third highest ever by a player who was just 20 years old at the end of a season (LeBron, ’04-05; KD ’08-09).

2. Mr. 70 became the first NBA player in 11 years to hit the point plateau in a loss at Boston on March 24, 2017. The scoring onslaught broke the Suns’ franchise record of 60 set by Tom Chambers exactly 27 years earlier, to the date, on March 24, 1990.

3. Book played Call of Duty competitively as a young teen.

4. Follow him on Instagram at @dbook or on Twitter at @devinbook.

5. Booker became the youngest player in NBA history to score 39 points in backto-back games, putting on a show for the fans in Mexico City, where the Suns hosted the Spurs and Mavericks in January 2017.

6. That is the name of Frosted Flakes in Mexico 7. Devin’s middle name is Armani.

8. Melvin Booker played in 32 NBA games with Houston, Denver and Golden State (1995-97), before going overseas to play in Italy, Turkey and Russia.

9. In Kobe’s last-ever game in Phoenix, he gave his shoes to Booker after the game and signed them with some motivation to “Be Legendary” on them.

10. Joining Booker, Nash and Barkley on the Suns’ 50th anniversary billboard is the late-Connie Hawkins and “Thunder” Dan Majerle.

BARRY GOSSAGE(2)/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

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G N I Y R U B N U LEDES E H T ty n e l p r o f e d a m . e n v o o s r a p e d s an off t w s o e h d l s i o w t s ’ e A m i B t it’s w The N o N . es n i l d a e of h

3 ley #5 d a r B chael

By Mi

T

he NBA offseason was the wildest ever, with top names changing teams, powerful alliances negotiated and the Western Conference’s growing into a super league of its own. Now comes the real fun, as the hypotheticals turn into reality, and the paper contenders try to put it all together. Big stories abound, and here are some of them.

SECOND IN COMMAND: One of the first questions Cleveland head coach Tyronn Lue was asked during his time at the podium on Cavs’ media day was how he planned to integrate Isaiah Thomas— whose injured hip isn’t likely to allow him to play until early 2018—into the offense. Last season, Lue struggled to blend February acquisition Kyle Korver into the attack, and folks are worried that Thomas will have similar acclimation issues.

“I don’t think it will be a challenge,” Lue said. “We’ve seen him the last couple years in the playoffs, so pretty much he knows what we run. We’re going to give him things he’s comfortable running. I just told Isaiah to come here, be aggressive, do what he does, and that’s the great thing about our team.”

After forging a leading role for himself in Boston, Thomas arrives in Cleveland to play a supporting part behind LeBron James. In essence, he is Kyrie Irving 2.0, the man at the point for the Cavs who will be asked to produce big numbers but still defer to James in key situations, when Lue—and James—decide the team would be better off with James running the offense.

It’s a difficult job made tougher by the fact that Thomas won’t be healthy until the New Year and that the Cavs have added veterans like Dwyane Wade, neither of whom is accustomed to being a 035 JESSE D. GARRABRANT/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

third or fourth option. The Cavaliers’ slow start out of the gate this season further amps up the urgency of his return. If Cleveland doesn’t win the East, it will be obvious that the Irving-for-Thomas swap didn’t work out for the Cavs, future draft picks garnered from the swap be damned since the team is—with a soon-to-be-33-year-old LeBron rumored to be leaving—in a win-now mode.

Thomas must create a good relationship with James and the team’s other vets, without sacrificing his aggressive offensive game. It’s a tough situation for Thomas and is exacerbated by the fact that he is a free agent after this season who can’t afford to have a huge statistical drop.

“I love Isaiah,” James said at media day. “You guys know what he did for that franchise in Boston. He captivated the fans. He captivated the city.”

As it’s been every step of his career, Thomas will have to prove himself once again.

THE BIG PIECE: Boston coach Brad Stevens doesn’t need anybody to inform him what fans in his town want. The NBA’s most successful franchise and winner of 17 titles is supposed to finish on top every year.

“The bottom line in Boston is to win a championship,” Stevens says. “I knew that when I took the job.”

Irving’s arrival makes that mandate even more immediate. The Celtics’ blockbuster deal that sent Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and two draft picks to Cleveland for Kyrie Irving has boosted expectations the Celtics will rise to the top of the East. After a process—though not as long, suffering nor publicized as the one in Philadelphia—where GM Danny Ainge stockpiled assets and cap space, the Celtics finally pushed their stacks into play with the trading of—gasp!—draft picks and taking on big salaries for Irving. Though Irving is just the third-highest paid player on the roster, behind injured forward Gordon Hayward and Al Horford, he is expected to be the primary force on the floor.

That’s why Irving agitated to leave the Cavs and LeBron James. He wants top billing, and in Boston he’ll get it, especially with Hayward out for the season. He will also receive far more scrutiny than he did in Cleveland and the credit/blame for the Celtics’ performance.

“He’s been great,” Stevens says. “He has brought great energy in practice and is excited for the challenge. He knows it’s not him against the world.

It’s us. It’s not on him. It’s on us. He has been very team oriented.”

Irving has the ability to score and distribute. He can take over games.

He can make big shots. He might be the NBA’s most exciting player that

doesn’t rely on a big dunk or a three-point bomb to excite the masses. But he has never been the top man on a top team before. Boston has made significant strides over the past several seasons, moving from 25 wins in 2013-14 to 53 last year and reached the 2017 Eastern Finals. Adding Irving and—before his injury—Hayward was supposed to provide the boost Boston needed to challenge Golden State for the prize Celtics fans believe to be their rightful reward.

Stevens veers from talk about Irving’s need to lead the way. “I don’t get into that stuff,” he says. “I could care less about what people say about expectations.” His goal is constant improvement with a peak in May and (hopefully) June. But Stevens can’t mute fans’ anticipation. So, he’ll work to improve the team, while everybody else focuses on the newest Celtic, the man who wanted the lead role.

“We have to build and grow every day, and that allows you to stay on an even keel,” Stevens says. “It’s a great challenge to stay in the moment. It’s not easy, but I have been given no indications that can’t happen.”

THE TIME IS NOW: There was no stopping Russell Westbrook last year— until the playoffs. The MVP averaged a triple-double and energized fans with his individual exploits during the regular season, but he was on the sidelines quickly after Houston eliminated Oklahoma City in just five firstround games (five games in which Westbrook averaged 37.4 points, 11.6 boards, 10.6 dimes and 2.4 steals).

In its bid to make a move in the Western Conference arms race, the Thunder added Paul George and Carmelo Anthony during the offseason, creating a team that appeared destined for contention.

For a year.

When the Thunder traded for Anthony in late September, all three stars had the chance to leave OKC after this season. Westbrook subsequently pledged his OKC allegiance, signing a fat extension, but uncertainty beyond 2017-18 remained. Oklahoma City is betting the whole stack on this season, hoping its Big Three can push it deep into the postseason.

After that? Who knows?

“You make a mistake when you try to project too far into the future of what somebody’s decision is going to be,” Thunder coach Billy Donovan says about worrying beyond this season.

Donovan needs to focus on the now, because he truly has no idea of who will be in town next year, including himself. In Westbrook, George and Anthony he has three proven offensive powerhouses, and it is his

036 DAVID LIAM KYLE; LAYNE MURDOCH/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

NBA, the NBA logo and team identifications are trademarks of NBA Properties, Inc. and the respective member teams. © 2018 NBA Properties, Inc. Photo by Getty Images. All Rights Reserved.

job to blend them with secondary pieces like Andre Roberson and Steven Adams into a contender.

In many ways, it’s a similar challenge to what Erik Spoelstra went through in Miami in 2010 when LeBron and Chris Bosh joined Dwyane Wade in South Beach. Donovan can only hope the results are as fruitful (the Heatles won two championships and went to four Finals), but of course Spoelstra had the benefit of time, with a contractually committed core (and the lack of a historically devastating squad like the Warriors).

“When you have three players merging together like Russell, Paul and Carmelo, it’s going to take some time to gain a rhythm and to understand chemistry,” Donovan says. “Because of the kind of people they are, they’re willing to really work hard to make all that stuff work out.”

Donovan likes his lineup versatility and increased offensive options. He thinks the three stars will commit to blending their talents into a winning concoction. And he understands how tough the neighborhood is.

“It’s about us right now,” he says. “You can sit there and try to look at other teams. But it’s ‘here’s where we’re at; this is where we could be at.

What does it take for us to get to where we want to go?’”

Quickly.

THE GREATEST EVER: Somewhere in southern California, there may be some people named Elgin or Jerry or Earvin, as homages to former Laker greats Elgin Baylor, Jerry West and Earvin “Magic” Johnson. We already know the country has plenty of Shaquilles running around. On Sept. 13, one rabid L.A. hoops fan named his newborn son after the young man expected to lead the Lakers back to NBA prominence.

Ladies and gentlemen, presenting Lonzo Elim, a bouncing baby Big Baller.

There has been hype surrounding top NBA draft picks before, but Lonzo Ball’s entry to the League has been accompanied by a worldwide, multi-platform dose of hysteria from his father, the outspoken LaVar, that is unprecedented. Before Ball even finished his freshman season at UCLA, LaVar was making outrageous statements about his son, himself and his family that have led to fears that it all may overwhelm Lonzo on the court.

“The next thing for Lonzo is to become the best player in the world,” LaVar told the BBC in October. “He ain't got nothing but time. Then my other two boys [middle child LiAngelo who is a freshman in UCLA and the 16-year-old UCLA-committed LaMelo] are going to chase him and be better than him. I hope all my boys end up on the Lakers. I guarantee they will win a lot of championships.”

It has been like that for months, but Ball seems to have handled his father’s shenanigans well, focusing on playing the game and being a good

teammate. Laker center Andrew Bogut commented on how the young man seems nothing like the creature his father created.

“He is softly spoken, has a good sense of humor and doesn't say a lot,” Bogut told the Sydney Morning Herald. “Nobody has had any issues with him.

“People's true colors come out as the season goes on, but I don't think he is like anything that has been reported.”

Ball can run a team, pass extremely well and lead the fastbreak. The challenge for him is playing well throughout the whole season, no matter what his father says or does, and weathering the inevitable storm he’ll encounter from rivals who aren’t too keen on a rookie getting so much attention.

They say iron sharpens iron.

NO PRESSURE: Although Washington matched the four-year, $106 million offer sheet Brooklyn bestowed upon three man Otto Porter in July, the press conference announcing the new deal did not include any mandates from head coach Scott Brooks or owner Ted Leonsis that the fifth-year pro pick up his production—or else.

“He’s not about stats,” Brooks said of Porter. “He can score more, and I get that and I appreciate it, but he’s willing to sacrifice his own game for the betterment of the team.”

It isn’t too often a coach will describe a max-deal player as someone suited for playing a supporting role, but Porter’s situation with the Wizards is different from that of the usual big-money earner. No matter the number of zeroes and commas in his paycheck, Porter is locked in as a definite third option for the team, behind Bradley Beal and John Wall, and though he is Washington’s highest-paid player this year, by 202021, he’ll be No. 3, as Beal’s deal swells, and Wall’s four-year, $170 million extension kicks in.

It’s no slight on Porter. He’s improved his scoring output every year since his disappointing and injury-riddled rookie year of 2.1 per game. Since that year, Porter showed the requisite signs—boosting his scoring to 6 and then 11.6 to last year’s 13.4 PPG— leading to his newfound riches and justification of his draft status (he was the third pick of the 2013 NBA Draft).

But his payday was based on economics, timing and frankly, because the

038 ANDREW D. BERNSTEIN; BART YOUNG/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

Wizards are too capped out to look elsewhere for help.

Although Washington is not delighted about having the League’s sixthhighest payroll, with the attendant eight-figure luxury tax headache, re-signing Porter was a must if it wanted to retain its status as one of the Eastern Conference’s top teams and to keep Beal and Wall—who didn’t sign his extension until after Porter inked his contract—happy. The Wizards reached the Eastern Semis last year, losing a tough, seven-game series to Boston, and fashion themselves as a team on the rise, even as the Celtics and Cleveland continue to gain headlines with shiny new roster imports.

“We’ve got another year up under our belts with each other and with the coaches,” Porter said after a late September practice. “It makes it that much easier to focus on what we need to focus on and continue to build and continue to learn and continue to play together.”

Porter is valued for his long-range shooting—his 43.4 percent three-point success rate was fifth-best in the League last year, and roster flexibility, as well as solid defense and willingness to sacrifice his numbers (last year’s 13.4 ppg were a career-high) for the team’s success. The Wizards want Porter to do more of the same this year, with increased wins and postseason success, rather than improved statistics, the ultimate goals. He’s made good on the team’s financial commitment to him, posting up 17.7 PPG on blistering 57 percent shooting from three.

“There’s one basketball and there’s a pecking order and John has the ball, and Bradley can make his own shot, and why we think this works is Otto fits,” Leonsis said in July. “[Porter] doesn’t need the ball and we like his game the way it is. The organization knows Otto, and we know he’s at his best and most contributing to the team when he’s himself, right?”

No matter what the price may be.

HOWARD’S END: The superhero talk about Dwight Howard is long over, replaced by questions regarding his ability to fit in with teammates, his somewhat stagnant offensive game and whether his stint with Charlotte will be his last NBA hurrah.

At one point, Howard was a two-way phenomenon, a Defensive Player of the Year threepeater, a perennial MVP candidate and one of the League’s most popular players (Howard is the only player to ever top 3 million All-Star votes). Now on his fifth team in seven seasons, Howard is viewed as a risky proposition and it’s been three seasons since he last suited up for an All-Star Game. Life comes at you fast.

Can he help the Hornets by hitting the boards and protecting the rim?

Will he blend in with a young roster? If not, Charlotte’s decision to acquire him from Atlanta will be considered one of the more ill-advised moves of the last few seasons, especially since he is owed $47.3 million over the next two seasons.

By moving to Charlotte, Howard has reunited with Steve Clifford, the Hornets’ head coach who was an assistant with Orlando and Los Angeles when the center played for those teams. The offense is similar to the one in which Howard thrived with the Magic during his first eight years in the League, and Clifford is optimistic Howard can help his team.

“He’s still very physical and still a very good athlete,” Clifford says.

“He doesn’t have the same athleticism he had when he was younger, obviously, but there are things he has gained through all the games he has played and the experiences he has had. There is a level of experience and maturity in the way he approaches things.”

The Hornets expect Howard to help on the boards and defensively. Even though Howard doesn’t block shots the way he did, he should prevent easy baskets and limit the number of rotations the Hornets must execute.

He is also still an elite rebounder, and last year’s 12.7 rpg figure was his

highest since 2011-12.

The question comes at the other end. Last year, Howard reportedly complained in Atlanta about not getting the ball enough, despite a limited offensive arsenal. Clifford quotes former Charlotte assistant—and Hall of Fame big man—Patrick Ewing as saying center is “a dependent position,” because teams must work to create opportunities for the person playing there. The Hornets will try to include him in the offense, but it will require a concerted effort from everyone on the floor. “We’re working on it, but it’s going to take a little while,” Clifford says. “But I think a dynamic in the pick-and-roll game with [All-Star guard Kemba Walker] is developing.

When he was younger, one of the most underrated aspects of his game was screening.”

At 32, Howard’s game shouldn’t be relegated to the past tense. A physical beast who overwhelmed opponents in his youth, Howard still moves well when healthy. His rebounding instincts, as illustrated by his rebounding percentage remaining at 21 percent every season (good enough for third all-time in NBA history), indicates there is no drop-off in that department. No amount of time with Hakeem Olajuwon will make Howard a throw-it-into-the-post option, and developing a three-point shot is not in the cards, but his expertise on the boards and aforementioned roll skills will net him 10-12 makeable attempts per game. So as long as Howard doesn’t make a buzz in the hive, things will go well in Charlotte.

Howard’s time in Charlotte will be defined not by his offensive stats but by whether he is able to work well with his teammates and help a young team succeed. Clifford believes the center can do that.

“I know he’s determined to play well,” Clifford says. “The thing he keeps talking about to me is being part of a team that wins. He feels challenged to get back to playing at an All-Star caliber level.”

PROCESSING NICELY: It took all of 14:45 of a preseason game for Sixers fans to dismiss any worries about whether their favorite team’s ownership had erred in bestowing a $146.5 million extension on Joel Embiid.

Watching the 7-2, 285-pound center bust up the Nets for 22 points, seven boards, three assists and a block convinced them that no amount of money is too much for the oft-injured but supremely-talented pivotman. Embiid then followed it up with a similar game in the regular season against a Detroit team with a defensive enforcer in Andre Drummond, shredding the Pistons for 30 points on 15 shots, including a deep three with confidence.

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WILL THE BUTLER DO IT? In celebration of its dramatic, last-second win in Oklahoma City, Minnesota promptly returned home and allowed an Indiana team that was missing star Myles Turner to shoot an incendiary 76.9 percent (30-of-39) in the second half, en route to a desultory 130-107 loss that came without new star Jimmy Butler (illness) or much interest from the roster at large.

“It’s just a very potent offensive package that people sort of have to gameplan for,” Sixers coach Brett Brown said after the game about Embiid’s versatility. “We see the impact that he makes on the defensive end and all over the place.

"Something like tonight will remind us all that’s why he was paid what he was paid.”

Before this season, Embiid played just 31 games in three seasons for the Sixers, but during that small sample size, he not only displayed enough skill to persuade the team’s brass to extend him, he also delighted fans who had been suffering through several seasons of bad basketball and little commitment to winning.

Should Embiid stay healthy enough to play an entire season, he will team with 2016 No. 1 overall pick Ben Simmons, a versatile, 6-9 point guard/forward, and guard Markelle Fultz, last June’s top draft choice, in what could be one of the NBA’s most interesting draft-built teams.

Simmons will certainly help. Now healthy after missing all of last season with a broken foot, he has demonstrated rare ability to handle the ball, run the floor, finish with authority and set up his teammates. He certainly impressed former Memphis head coach David Fizdale, who gushed about Simmons after a preseason game.

“Oh, my god,” Fizdale said. “I don’t want to see him for the next 15 years.

That kid, they’re not talking about him enough. The way he moves with the ball, his ability to see the floor, the way he can get places on the floor, once he gets confidence in his shot where you really have to close out all the way to the three—wow. He is a big-time talent.”

Fultz’s early shoulder woes have cast the lone cloud in the otherwise sunny skies of Philadelphia. The free-throw mechanics and refusal to shoot from long range are concerns, but injuries have almost become a rite of passage for Sixer draft picks. It’s too early to pass judgment on a player that was universally lauded as the top pick in May. In the meantime, steady shooter J.J. Redick, acquired during the offseason, promising second-year forward Dario Saric and veteran guard Jerryd Bayless, and the Sixers look like a real, live NBA team—and a playoff contender.

For a change.

The defeat proved that trading for Butler was an absolute necessity, since his tenacity and commitment to defense were absent against the Pacers, as both qualities were last year, when Butler was in Chicago.

“We came out flat,” point guard Jeff Teague, himself a new T-wolves conscript, told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. “That happens sometimes when you win a big game on the road. You come home and just expect it’s going to happen. You can’t play that way.”

Minnesota is not expected to do things like lose to Indiana at home by 23. The combination of Butler and his one-time nemesis and now favorite coach, Tom Thibodeau, was supposed to be what was necessary to reverse the League’s ugliest stretch of futility. No team has lost more games over the last decade than has Minnesota, and the Timberwolves have not had a winning record in a dozen years. But Butler was supposed to embody Thibodeau’s defensive ethos and help reverse the misery.

Butler, Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins (he of the five-year, $145 million extension) will provide plenty of scoring, but the key to Minnesota’s breaking the League’s longest playoff drought—13 years—is at the other end, which is supposed to be Thibs’ specialty. He couldn’t effect change last year, when Minnesota finished 26th in defensive rating, but with Butler on board in 2017-18, things should be different.

Should be.

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THERE’S A REASON YOU GOTTA SEE IT TO BELIEVE IT.

I’M CATCH ALL THE ACTION

WHY

BY DARRYL HOWERTON #21

G T N I H C A TR

042 GLENN JAMES; JESSE D. GARRABRANT; MICHAEL GONZALES; BARRY GOSSAGE; ROCKY WIDNER/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

A N HE D

This year’s crop of standout rookies can be tracked back through their NBA lineage.

W

ith apologies to Kendrick Lamar…

I got, I got, I got, I got Loyalty, got royalty inside my DNA. Magic Johnson. LeBron James. Ben Simmons.

I got power, poison, pain and joy inside my DNA. Jason Kidd. Ricky Rubio. Lonzo Ball.

I got hustle though, ambition, flow, inside my DNA. Alex English. Carmelo Anthony. Jayson Tatum.

I just win again, then win again like Wimbledon, I serve.

The game is always changing. Just like Kendrick’s lyricism has been shaped by Tupac before him, players today have been shaped by those who came before them. Whether it’s through YouTube, DVDs, VHS cassettes or reels of film, players have studied and learned from those before them, using that knowledge to pattern their game. In spite of the mimicry, these players do not become clones. Instead, they morph into evolved versions.

We take a look the NBA’s DNA hereditary timelines between today’s League rookies and the hoop forefathers who honed their games before them.

043

BEN SIMMONS

Some senior citizen Sixers fans probably see Simmons in a different light than most.

When they open their eyes at the Wells Fargo Center court, these 60and 70-year-old fans perhaps envision Billy Cunningham, an old-school Hall of Famer from a previous era, when they think of past players that remind them of Simmons.

Billy Cunningham

Magic Johnson

That’s right—Billy C. a.k.a. The Kangaroo Kid. Sixers legend. Lefty all-around stud in a forward’s body. Made everybody around him better.

Way before Mr. C was coaching Julius Erving, Moses Malone, Andrew Toney and Mo Cheeks to the 1982 NBA championship, the 6-6, 210-pound lefty was a key sixth man (27 minutes per game) on the Sixers’ legendary 1967 NBA title team that also featured NBA MVP Wilt Chamberlain, and All-Stars Hal Greer and Chet Walker.

Back in the day, Cunningham would average 19 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists for that historic 68-13 squad, and go on in the 1970s to become a five-time All-Star, peaking statistically with averages of 26 points, 14 rebounds and 4 assists in 40 minutes per game for the 1969-70 Sixers.

That same O.G. Philly fanatic also remembers a time when Coach Cunningham had to gameplan against another all-around stud in a forward’s body, a man named Earvin “Magic” Johnson, who actually played point guard despite measuring in at 6-9, 215 pounds.

These Sixers 60- and 70-year-old Sixer fans cannot help but remember

Chris Webber a 1980s Magic and his Showtime offense with their Laker fast-breaker offense, meshed with the clear-out, post-up talents of Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

After all, Simmons’ push-the-pace leadership is drawn from the very pages of a Magic Johnson/Showtime playbook (Simmons’ Sixers team already ranks fourth in pace at 104.63 points per 100 possessions).

Whereas Magic averaged 18 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists in 35 minutes per game as a 20-year-old rookie, while playing alongside 197980 NBA MVP Abdul-Jabbar, Simmons is—through nine games as a 21-yearold rookie—averaging 18 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists in 35 minutes

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per game, while playing alongside All-Star candidate Joel Embiid.

The liknesses do not end there either.

The NBA DNA of Magic continued throughout the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s in the embodiments of Chris Webber, Lamar Odom and LeBron James, and these men too have, in turn, influenced the player Simmons is today.

In role models like Webber, Simmons shows he does not have to run the offense on the break or through the point guard position to have a positive influence on the offense.

Lamar Odom

In fact, an estimated quarter of his playing time is spent away from the point guard position. Yet his passing has become just as fun and contagious through the Sixers ranks for them to rate third in team assist ratio (61.5 percent), which is reminiscent of Webbers’ pass-happy Sacramento Kings teams of the 1990s.

Alas, watching Simmons run his lefty breaks—from rebound-off–the-

glass to assist-for-dunk at the other end—also takes us back to Odom and the Lakers’ sixth-man slashing ways.

Like Odom, Simmons is showing signs of becoming a good defender and rebounder, while his stats already show his best scoring attribute is finishing at the rim, with an efficient 48 percent of his shots coming at the rim at a 69 percent success rate.

Strong too is the influence of LeBron, who has already won three NBA championships and earned four NBA MVP awards in

his first 14 seasons in the League. LeBron just may be the best-case scenario a franchise would want in any Simmons comparison.

Cleveland fans indeed remember the day when rookie LeBron joined a Cleveland club that had just gone 1765 and helped the Cavs double their win output to 35-47 in 2003-04.

They also remember the following season, when at 21 (Simmons' current age) LeBron helped helped the team become a winner at 42-40, as King James established his kingdom, averaging 27 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists in 42 minutes per game.

It may only be a matter of time until Simmons starts putting up stat lines like that.

Whether Philly can start doubling win totals as soon as this season is a another matter entirely.

LeBron James

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LONZO BALL

From the time the late, great Dennis Johnson broke into the League with the Seattle SuperSonics in the late 1970s through his years in the 1980s with the Suns and Celtics, Johnson was one of the best all-around guards of his time.

Like Ball many decades later, D.J. seemed to play the game a few moves ahead of the rest.

The legendary Larry Bird once said Dennis was the best player he ever played with because the 6-4, 185-pound guard made him a better player.

Bird marveled at how Johnson always got him the ball in the right spot, saying the Celtics’ former combo guard was such an intelligent player that

Dennis Johnson the two often operated on their own wavelength without ever having to say words on the basketball court.

Who can forget the backdoor layups D.J. continually fed Bird in every NBA game they ever played together?

You see the 6-6, 190-pound Ball have those same ESP connections with scorer Kyle Kuzma on the perimeter. Or with transition-tantalizer Larry Nance on the break. Or with screening big Brook Lopez on their pick-androll-pop-drive game.

In another way, Ball’s point-guard mentality truly evokes the spirit of Philadelphia 76ers point guard Maurice Cheeks, who played the same way in the ’80s.

As the quarterback on the Sixers’ 1983 NBA Championship team—led by 20-plus points-per-game scorers Moses Malone, Julius Erving and Andrew Toney—Cheeks was the important cog that kept all three scoring All-Stars happy, while also creating a playmaker niche for himself that saw him also honored as an All-Star, the first of four selections in his career.

In fact, Cheeks was such a playmaker that people forget how vital he was to Philly’s success since he never scored more than 15 points per game.

Mo Cheeks

John Stockton

It is something Ball deals with now when the media criticizes his lack of scoring (in his first nine Lakers games, Ball averaged 9 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists).

It is this selfless attitude that separates Ball from most of his rookie peers because—similar to John Stockton, who stood out in a ’90s era when scoring point guards were all the rage—Ball is the closest thing to a pure point guard that you will find in the NBA. By comparison, the late, great coach John Wooden once said Stockton’s

046 ANDREW D. BERNSTEIN (3)/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

game was so pure, that he was the one NBA player that he would actually pay to watch play.

Ball, whose basketball joy and skills are as pure as anyone’s, would probably evoke similar feelings from his fellow UCLA Bruin, if the legendary coach were alive today.

And Wooden would be the first to remind Ball that Stockton did not average double figures in points until his fourth NBA season, when he was 25 years old.

Perhaps the most common evolutionary link from Ball to players past is Jason Kidd, who played in Finals with both the Dallas Mavericks and New Jersey Nets.

Jason Kidd

Ricky Rubio

As a point guard who dominated in the 2000s, Kidd bears a striking resemblance to Ball—not just in body size but basketball IQ. Like Ball, the 6-4, 205-pound Kidd was a prodigy who was unparalleled among his peers with stellar playmaking, rebounding and defensive honors in his pocket, while his offense was marked with one obvious weakness: poor shooting.

Kidd, in fact, did not have a true shooting percentage over .500 until his

fourth NBA season.

If there is a saving grace for Ball, Kidd, in time, did become a good three-point shooter, eventually making 1,988 treys, where he now ranks eighth all-time in NBA record books.

Another modern-day match would be Utah Jazz point guard Ricky Rubio, who like the Lakers point guard has been in the global spotlight since his teenage days in Spain.

Rubio too had a knack for playmaking—and a penchant for struggling with his shot—but alas, always made those around him better, and found

ways to dominate games in Minnesota as a six-year starter, without ever being much of a scoring threat.

Ball is cut from the same cloth today, and like the Spaniard great before him, is just now hearing how few critics actually enjoy pass-first point guards.

Rubio, who now actually shoots transition three-pointers, is in his seventh NBA season and is primed to more than double his career-best in three-pointers made, while also setting a personal best for three-point percentage as well.

As unorthodox as Ball’s jumper may look now, that’s where his future likely lies as well.

047

ANDREW D. BERNSTEIN (2); MELISSA MAJCHRZAK/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

of Fame player and a great NBA head coach, too. I haven’t been able to see him play, but now that you mention him. I definitely will go back and look at some film.

Two other favorites that remind us of you are Chris Webber and Lamar Odom.

I’ve heard the Lamar comparisons before just because he’s a lefty. But at the same time, we have different games. But that’s everybody. Everyone has a different game. But I see why they say him.

Do you watch the other players with similar builds to you? Do you learn anything about how their game and your game evolve together over time?

I watch them a little bit. But I learn more just playing against different players and different sets of defense. I think that really helps you get better. And that’s what it means by gaining experience and just being out on the floor.

Much has been said about your shooting being a weakness, but you don’t take bad shots. Zero three-point attempts, except buzzer-beating heaves, and no long twos either. Are you proud of your shot selection?

Definitely, definitely. It’s only going to get better with time.

You took the League by storm this season at age 21.

You were hurt at age 20. Do you think you could have played in the NBA at age 19 when you were going to LSU? Definitely, I think I could have played for sure.

BEN SIMMERING His NBA DNA has been linked to every selfless, ballhandling giant from Magic Johnson to LeBron James. But as Philadelphia 76ers rookie Ben Simmons heads into this 2017-18 season, we asked the 6-10 point guard whom he sees himself morphing into?

You make the game look so easy.

That’s just the way I was brought up and raised to play the game a certain way. So I’ve stuck to that and it’s paid off.

It’s just your first year. Are you surprised you’re playing so well?

No, I want to play better. Much better.

Is it confidence or naiveté?

Nothing really bothers me on the court. I try to not let the game faze me. I try to take it one play at a time. When I’m out there, I just play. I don’t really worry about too much. Just try and win.

We are doing a story that links the NBA DNA of greats to rookies like yourself. We’ve got Magic and LeBron’s games linked to your game. I’m sure you’ve heard that type of comparison before.

I see why a lot of people compare me to those guys.

They’re great players and Hall of Famers, so that means a lot. But I have a lot to work on to get to that point. It’ll take time. But I’m looking forward to it.

Have you heard of Billy Cunningham of the Philadelphia 76ers?

Yup. Yup. A lefty, 6-6 forward who could do it all—Hall

Would you rather have done that?

I think it would have been a great opportunity for me.

But I don’t regret going to LSU or anything like that because I made a lot of good friends there. But at the same time, being in the League is a whole different thing. You can learn a lot just being in the League, being around other professionals.

You joined a team that has done a lot of losing the last few years. What’s it like to be a part of this type of turnaround?

It’s special being a part of it. But at the same time, it’s early in the season. We have a lot of games to go.

So for us, we’re just trying to get better every game to get where we want to be and that’s the playoffs.

What will it take as a team to become a playoff squad?

Everybody on everything. We have to continue to get better at everything, whether it’s on offense or defense. And then we’ve each got to step up when our name is called.—#21

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JAYSON TATUM

Despite being the No. 3 pick in the 2017 NBA Draft and the player the Celtics brass said they would’ve tabbed at No. 1 if they didn’t trade down in the draft, Jayson Tatum’s rookie season was supposed to be one where he would be learning on the sidelines as much as he would with sparse minutes. But in the NBA, things change quickly.

When Boston big Marcus Morris missed the first game of the 2017-18 NBA season with a knee injury, rookie Tatum was thrust into the Celtics’ starting lineup.

Then, when All-Star wing Gordon Hayward suffered his tragic leg

Alex English

Bernard King

and ankle injuries during Tatum’s spot start, head coach Brad Stevens consequently slid Tatum over to one of the wing slots, whereupon the rook’s basketball responsibilities doubled overnight.

Tatum has been up to the challenge, becoming one of only a dozen teens in NBA history to average 14-plus points, joining such notables as Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James and Kevin Durant.

All this while scoring alongside Kyrie Irving, Jaylen Brown and Al Horford as Boston’s fourth option in the offense.

Even though four years in age—and four decades in timespan—separate their NBA rookie seasons, Tatum’s career arc is actually running parallel to the career of Alex English, who was a valued scorer as the third, fourth and fifth banana on the late 1970s Bucks, Pacers and Nuggets teams.

050

Like Tatum, the 6-7, 190-pound English could go iso at any time from any spot on the court and knock down shots at 50-percent regularity (three-pointers were not part of the NBA game in the ’70s and English really never added it to his repertoire in the ’80s when the shot was adopted).

But it was not until English arrived in Denver in the 1980s that he soon ascended to the top of the NBA scoring charts, first as the League’s leading scorer in the 1982-83 season, when he was 29 years old, or at the end of the decade when he went down as the NBA’s greatest scorer of the 1980s, tallying 21,018 points through the 10 seasons.

That could be Tatum’s future—a scorer on par with English or perhaps

Detlef Schrempf even-Steven with a 1980s version of Bernard King, an all-time great who had the post-up moves of a top-notch power forward, while also possessing the skill set of a scoring forward like English.

It is a role Tatum has taken to immediately with Boston, whether playing alongside power forward Morris or along with wing Jaylen Brown. Or with both, for that matter.

The 6-7, 205-pound King relished the opportunity of taking men his size—or bigger—down in the paint and working the pivot on either block with equal aplomb.

A 60-point Christmas game or back-to-back 50 point contests were just part of King’s resumé, along with a 1984-85 NBA scoring title (32.9 points per game), a 22.5 career scoring average and a Hall-of-Fame, ANDREW D. BERNSTEIN; KEN REGAN; ROCKY WIDNERA/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

14-season career.

If Tatum doesn’t become King at his postion, the Celtic could well become the most prolific stretch 4 in the game today. After all, he is the only NBA rookie who evokes images of Detlef Schrempf, one of the original stretch 4s of the 1990s.

The 6-9, 214-pound Schrempf not only laid the groundwork for fellow German countryman Dirk Nowitzki, but also probably gives us the most accurate template of the current-day Tatum, who is fast approaching Schrempf at his peak.

Three-time All-Star Schrempf, whose best seasons were in his 30s at Indiana and Seattle, simply got better with time, becoming a fierce floor-spacing 4 in his 30s, shooting better than 40 percent in six of seven seasons during his 32-through-37-year-old phase.

Tatum?

Carmelo Anthony

Paul George

He already is knocking down 1.4 three-pointers in 2.8 attempts per game at a red-hot 50-percent clip to start the season through nine games.

Another first-round No. 3 pick from an NBA Draft that hearkens the memory of Tatum is Carmelo Anthony, who also entered the NBA with a similar skill set as the young Celtic.

At Duke, while playing under Melo’s USA Basketball head coach Mike Krzyzewski, Tatum was forced to come up with an assortment of moves: playing isolation basketball from the mid-post to the three-point line, getting to the rim or pulling up for the J. That way of life has translated to his Boston rookie season, where the Celtic shoots 43 percent of his shots from 16 feet and beyond, yet can convert all of his attempts into a stellar .627 true shooting percentage (through nine games), while getting to the free-throw line, with his LAYNE MURDOCH (2); DANNY BOLLINGER/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

assortment of feints and jab steps, to the tune of 4.3 attempts in 32.1 minutes per game.

That is oh-so-similar to rookie Melo’s range, where 42 percent of his rookie shots as a 19-year-old came from 16-feet-and-beyond, along with 6.4 free throw attempts in 36.5 minutes per game.

That said, not even Melo can match the kid for overall efficiency (Anthony’s TSP was .509 his rookie year in Denver), which bodes well for Tatum’s future.

That is part of the reason why modern-day fans see Tatum growing into more of a Paul George type than a Melo, due to Tatum’s ever-expanding skill set, versatility, range, not to mention defensive assertiveness.

After all, in head coach Brad Stevens, Boston has one of the NBA’s best

five coaches and a mentor who creates dimensional defensive game plans that turns most of his players into all-around basketball studs.

We are already noticing the change in Tatum, who is now part of a Boston nucleus that is taking the NBA by defensive storm.

The surprising, once-dormant defending skills of Kyrie Irving indeed are meshing well with Tatum, fellow young 3-and-D wing Brown, along with bigs Horford and Aron Baynes.

We are not saying Tatum is at George’s All-Defense level yet—where the teen is now able to take on LeBron James by himself—but we are saying Tatum is definitely moving on the right path in that direction.

051

JOSH JACKSON

With his throwback afro, Jackson's look says ’70s basketball and perhaps no player better symbolizes both Jackson and NBA-ABA merge-ball better than old-school Spurs forward Larry Kenon, who played for San Antonio in both the ABA and NBA as the two leagues merged in the mid-’70s.

For his time, the 6-9, 205-pound Kenon was a freak of nature, playing the All-Star role of a 20-10 power forward, while having the athletic, small-forward body of a gazelle on the court.

While Kenon’s teammate, George “The Iceman”

Larry Kenon James Worthy Gervin, would get his League-leading buckets from places all over the court, Special K (Kenon’s nickname) would have a penchant for stockpiling points in the paint, whether he was in halfcourt sets, scoring putbacks or finishing breaks in transition.

Jackson is the same way. Nobody knows what to make of him, especially after only two months of NBA basketball.

Despite his youth and limited playing time (24 minutes per game), Jackson is still able to score 10 points per game—albeit, while seemingly lacking a mid-range shot, with 57 percent of Jackson’s attacks coming within the paint, 30 percent beyond the three-point arc, while the remaining 13 percent disappear somewhere in his negligible midrange game.

Some too also see James Worthy in Jackson’s game. Worthy, at one time in the NBA, had the quickest first step in the League, which made

Scottie Pippen him a natural go-to player in the halfcourt set, while also possessing the athleticism to make him one of the most dangerous transition attackers—and Magic Johnson weapons—in basketball. Throw in a reliable mid-range jumper and Worthy went on to become an NBA champion and Hall of Famer.

If Jackson's game takes a more defense-first direction, then a ’90s

052 NBA PHOTOS; ANDREW D. BERNSTEIN; NATHANIEL S. BUTLER/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

Scottie Pippen will be the main influence. With a similar longlimbed frame—both Jackson and the 6-8, 210-pound Pippen have 7-0 wingspans—the Phoenix forward could become a terror for both wings and bigs alike, as Pippen was in his day.

One thing Jackson does that the aforementioned did not is attempt three-pointers at such an early age, certainly making him a product of the times today.

Robert Horry

But perhaps the most accurate League comp thus far is 2010s prospect Andrew Wiggins, who still has not developed into the player he is destined to become either.

After all, Wiggins has shown a natural inclination to score a la Jackson, yet half the NBA world does not know how good he may be (the Timberwolves wing does already have a 20 points scoring average in 250-

Andrew Wiggins

But one man who was ahead of his time was Robert Horry, whose career peaked in the 2000s as he was collecting his seventh NBA championship ring with three different title-winning organizations (Spurs, Lakers and Rockets).

If Jackson could ever become the defender and stretch 4 that Horry was, then he might find his way onto some needy championship organization.

plus career games as a 22-year-old).

Yet Wiggins’ game is as growing even as his identity is unknown.

Same is true for Jackson. He truly has a bit of the DNA of each of these long, lean forwards, but who he is to become is still up in the air … as is his game.

053

ANDREW D. BERNSTEIN; JORDAN JOHNSON; BARRY GOSSAGE/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

DENNIS SMITH JR.

Sometimes a player enters the NBA with seemingly too much athleticism for his own good.

That is Smith, who plays at an even faster speed than the fastest of fast point guards.

The Mavs’ new point guard is reminiscent of Nate “Tiny” Archibald, who took the NBA by storm in the 1970s, despite a 6-1, 150-pound frame.

Tiny Archiblad

guard, but like Smith, when he entered a decade earlier with the Royals, Archibald got from the perimeter to the rim faster than anyone in the League.

He also possessed an endless amount of energy, burning 46 minutes per game nightly (his 1972-73 League-leading average, when as a 24-year-old Kansas City King, he also led the NBA with 34 points and 11.4 assists per game).

On a similar note in the 1980s, but from a different position, Bucks

Sidney Moncrief

Like Smith playing for a losing team, Archibald broke into the NBA with the Cincinnati Royals, and left the game as a Hall of Famer, most revered for quarterbacking the 1980-81 Celtics to an NBA championship, alongside a young Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish.

The six-time All-Star finished his career as the court-savvy point

Rod Strickland

shooting guard Sidney Moncrief had a similar skill set, while maximizing his abilities by being one of the best all-around players in the game.

Everything from Moncrief’s game was birthed from his perennial AllDefense tenaciousness (the 6-3, 185-pound Buck made All-Defense five times, just as he made All-NBA five times).

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In Rod Strickland comparisons, some NBA scouts see Smith as a combo guard playmaker, who might be better teamed with a three-point shooting complement so that Smith can score and create like Strickland did in his prime.

Part of the reason for that is because—like Strickland—Smith has yet to show a penchant for being a sharpshooter.

In Strickland’s best seasons—with Portland and Washington in the

Steve Francis

Houston run with aging Rockets or exiting after not meshing with a too-young Yao Ming.

That is why the template of Russell Westbrook must be used when talking about the freakishly athletic point guard who plays basketballs-tothe-wall, with a take-it-to-the-hoop attitude on every position.

When Westbrook—as athletic and relentless and energetic as they come—played with elite shooters/scorers like Kevin Durant and/or James

Russell Westbrook

1990s—both teams neglected to surround the Blazer/Bullet with shooters, which in turn limited those teams to one-round-and-out playoff squads.

The same was true a decade later with another Smith-type in the super-athletic Steve Francis, who took the NBA by storm as a three-time All-Star Rocket scoring point guard.

But in the end, Francis just missed the boat—starting his four-year

Harden, his team was also elite.

When Westbrook now plays with elite shooters/scorers Anthony and George, it again looks as if the Thunder are becoming elite.

Until Dallas can acquire players like Nowitzki in his prime, Smith’s talents will be underutilized until further notice.

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Aheadof Their

By Bryan Crawford #26

Time Timing is everything. For these players, the League was just not ready for them.

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very generation of basketball fans has had a debate about guys from a past era being able to compete against anyone from any era. These days, with social media and a 24/7 sports news cycle, these conversations have

become more common. Many fans feel that the current era of the NBA has produced the best players of any generation. But many “old head” basketball fans, particularly those who grew up watching basketball pre-Twitter hot takes, feel that their generation produced the best players from top-to-bottom.

Comparing players from different eras always includes a fair amount of revisionist history and recency bias, but some guys absolutely had the game to compete in any era. Many of them weren’t considered superstars then and probably wouldn’t be now, but they did have the skill and ability that transcends eras and would allow them to not only hold their own, but quite possibly, even dominate today.

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Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf Played from 1991 to 2001 Many of today’s basketball fans probably didn’t know who Abdul-Rauf was before talk began to circulate that he was doing things 30 years ago that Steph Curry does now. Of course, that kind of thing sounded ridiculous, especially when the former Nuggets, Kings and Vancouver Grizzlies point guard has career averages of 14.6 points and 35 percent shooting from behind the three-point line. But if you watched the 48-year-old compete in the BIG3 basketball tournament, then it was easy to see why, despite the numbers, the comparison to Curry was accurate. His quick release, shifty handle and general knack for putting the ball in the basket would make him a perfect fit in today’s NBA. Unfortunately for AbdulRauf, he played at a time when plodding pace, center-centric offenses and hand-checking dominated the League. Even though the Denver Nuggets teams he played on were relatively fast-paced, they’d still be in the slow lane in today’s NBA. Teams were looking for big point guards who could man a halfcourt offense and whose main duties would be to D up, feed the post and hit the occasional jumper when all else failed. Having a ballhandling virtuoso who liked to pull up for threes made head coaches of the time pull their hair out.

Put Abdul-Rauf into a 2018 team and you could picture All-Star numbers and max-level contracts as an unguardable shifty PG with range to spare.

When word got back that he was being mentioned in the same breath as the two-time MVP, Abdul-Rauf said he was humbled to even still be spoken of so many years later. “There’s always going to be some comparisons made from one person to the next, but sometimes when one guy’s game is used to downplay another’s skills, it’s too much,” says Abdul-Rauf. “It’s Steph’s time now and I love to watch him play. For me to still be in the conversation today is beautiful, but it’s also a little strange.

A lot of the younger generation today will see me and associate me more with the BIG3 than the NBA.”

Dale Ellis Played from 1983 to 2000 The 6-7 sharpshooter played on six teams during his 17-year NBA career, but his best seasons were in the Pacific Northwest with the Seattle SuperSonics: He was an All-Star in 1989 and took home the three-point shootout championship, beating defending champion Craig Hodges and Reggie Miller. The three-pointer wasn’t the offensive staple in the League that it is now, but Ellis’ 40.3 percent career average would definitely make him a valuable player today.

Ellis shot above 40 percent from beyond the arc nine times in his career, and he led the League in 1998 when he connected on 46 percent of his attempts—and he did so while taking just 3.5 a game, a number that many of today’s players (many of whom don’t possess Ellis’ marksmanship) attempt in a single quarter. With every team in today’s NBA looking to

add a viable threat from long range and valuing versatility, Ellis’ combination of size and shooting would make him a coach’s dream. Ellis could be a big shooting guard if teams want to go big and could likely slide all the way to the 4 when smallball is employed, all the while being a valuable floor spacer.

For all the love that Klay Thompson gets for his compact and quick shooting release, Ellis might be even better. Ellis was more of a jumpshooter than Thompson, preferring to get more lift underneath his shot.

He was a picture of efficiency: elbows square and a lightning-quick flick of the wrist. A deadly weapon even when it was underappreciated back then, Ellis would’ve been a lot to deal with now.

Dell Curry Played from 1986 to 2002 The elder Curry may not have been the superstar that his oldest son is today, but three-point shooting is certainly a Curry family trait. A 40 percent career three-point shooter, Dell Curry was a key member of the expansion Charlotte Hornets, helping the team make its first playoff appearance in 1989 and beating the Boston Celtics 3-1 in the first round. Curry’s three-point shooting average over the decade he spent in Charlotte mirrors his career numbers of 40 percent. But his best season ever from beyond the arc came in 1998-99 when he played half a season for the Milwaukee Bucks. In his 13th season that year, the 34-year-old shot a remarkable 48 percent and connected on his 1,000th career make against the Golden State Warriors at 34-years-old.

Comparatively speaking, his son Steph made 1,000 threepointers faster than anyone in NBA history, and did it in half the time it took his father. The name Curry will forever be synonymous with three-point shooting and Dell could certainly compete in this era along with his two sons.

As good as the elder Curry was from deep, teams did not value the three-pointer like they do now, with many head coaches still seeing it as a novelty like onside kicks in football—something to resort to when you’re down big. In fact for most of his career, Dell was primarily a specialist coming off the bench. He started just 99 of 1,083 NBA games as coaches used him as a way to rev up the second-unit scoring. He played that role so well in 1993-94 that he took home the Sixth Man of the Year trophy.

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Curry would get the occasional screen, but more often than not, he found his living traversing the three-point line and hoping for a kickout pass from a double-teamed big. He barely jumped on his shot, but his slingshot-like release made up for any defensive close-outs. He was also durable and his deadeye stroke kept him around to the age of 37, a rare standard that few shooting guards have reached.

In today’s game he’d be like Kyle Korver, a player for whom head coaches set up a series of exotic screens and movement in order to get him an open look.

Dana Barros Played from 1989 to 2004 The first four years of his NBA career, Barros—generously listed at 5-11—didn’t look much like a player who had what it took to stick around the NBA around very long. You have to remember, NBA teams were still looking for Magic Johnson-type clones at point guard. You needed to be able to stand tall to arm-check opposing bully points that roamed the League.

With just 28 starts and an 8 PPG scoring average playing for the Seattle Supersonics, backing up Hall of Fame point guard Gary Payton, Barros didn’t seem long for the NBA. But things would turn around for Barros during the 1993-94 season when he arrived in Philadelphia to play for the Sixers. There, he was given an opportunity to let his offensive game and scoring ability shine. In his second season in Philly, Barros would make the All-Star team playing for John Lucas, another diminutive point guard who could fill it up in a hurry back in his day. That year, in 1994-95, Barros dropped 50 points on Houston, and nearly a month later, put up a triple-double against the Orlando Magic. He also began a streak of making a three-pointer in 89 straight games, a record that would stand for 17 years. Barros left via free agency a year later but was reduced back to being a change-of-pace reserve guard. Essentially, Barros primed Philly fans for the arrival of another diminutive high-scoring guard a year later (he even wore #3, making him the last person besides Allen Iverson to wear the number as a Sixer).

As a 41 percent shooter from the three-point line, Barros’ raw scoring ability, combined with his outside marksmanship, would make him a perfect fit in today’s NBA and a legitimate contender next to Isaiah Thomas as the best little man in the League. Like IT, Barros possessed the ballhandling to keep defenders off balance and the panache to step back and drill it (although Barros seldom did; once again, different era).

At 5-11, Barros would still have to constantly prove that he belongs in a League where the average player stands 8 inches taller, but he would at least be recognized.

Ralph Sampson Played from 1983 to 1992 A number of things made Sampson not only unique as an NBA player, but also a great fit for today’s game. At 7-4, and a lithe 230 pounds, he

was a finesse player who could put the ball on the floor and take any big man off the dribble, and finish around the basket with either hand, from any angle. Sampson also possessed a power game and would throw it down in the face of any defender who dared challenge him at the rim. He also possessed decent range from 15-20 feet and could knock those shots down either all net or off the glass. If Sampson had an NBA doppleganger today, it would probably be Kristaps Porzingis without the threepoint shot (although that's probably only because his head coach didn’t even let his guards shoot many threes). Sampson came from an era where big men played close to the basket, which limited his offensive potential.

Sampson's futuristic game was not fully utilized by coach Bill Fitch, an oldhead even in 1984 who had 13 years of NBA coaching experience, including the 1981 NBA title with the Celtics, when he took the Rockets gig. Sampson was jammed into the middle with Hakeem Olajuwon (who joined the Rockets in Sampson’s second year). On occasion, Sampson was allowed to face up from perimeter, making for some awkward moments of '80s-era centers looking completely out of their element (see picture, where even the greatest center ever was not immune to Sampson’s unique game). In the modern NBA, Sampson would be a problem with his skill set in a 7-foot package. The Sampson-Olajuwon duo would compare close to what the Pelicans now have with Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins, but likely even better.

Still, teaming with Olajuwon to form the “Twin Towers” duo, Sampson was an NBA All-Star his first four years in the League, averaging a double-double in his first three campaigns in Houston, and helping the Rockets advance to the Finals in 85-86. Unfortunately, injuries robbed Sampson of both his prime and potential, but the first player to ever put up a 30-point, 15-rebound, 8-assist and 5-steals stat line, stands a good chance of being able to compete in the League today. As it was, Sampson was enshrined into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012, but can you imagine all the talk of unicorns with Sampson had he been playing in 2018?

Cliff Robinson Played from 1989 to 2007 When you see NBA players today wearing a headband, you should know that Robinson was the godfather of this on-court fashion staple.

Robinson wasn’t the first, but he definitely gets credit for bringing it back.

But that’s not why Robinson makes this list. In the ’90s, “Uncle Cliffy” was also one of the best in the business at his position, even if he wasn’t fully appreciated on a grand scale. He had the physical frame of a giant at 6-10, but the game and mobility of a player a foot smaller. He could run the floor in the open court, post up and score from the midrange in the halfcourt, and shoot the three, which he did at a 36 percent clip for his career. He once made six threes on the way to hanging 39 points on Michael Jordan and the 72-10 Chicago Bulls in the United Center. Just as valuable as his

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offensive contributions was Robinson’s defensive versatility, as his length and quickness allowed him to D up everyone from centers to fleet-of-foot guards. Even in a time when defense was judged on counting stats like steals and blocks (Robinson averaged 1 block and 1 steal for his career), Robinson’s ability to guard all five positions earned him two All-Defensive Second Teams.

“When I was a kid, my favorite players were guards,” says Robinson. “Isiah Thomas was one of my favorite players. I loved watching Pearl Washington. And Magic Johnson, obviously, was a player I enjoyed watching growing up. So, for me, I just gravitated toward trying to have a good, allaround game. I figured if you could play a lot of different positions and do a lot of different things, it’d be hard for a coach to take you off the court.”

Which is also something that almost never happened. In Robinson’s first 15 years in the League, he missed a total of 18 games. He played in the Finals in 1992 (it was on that stage that Jordan famously did “The Shrug” on Robinson after going on a three-point tear), made the All-Star team in 1994, and in his prime, was one of the best players in the NBA. He may not be a player today’s NBA fans remember, but he’s certainly one his contemporaries will never forget.

Drazen Petrovic Played from 1989 to 1993 With guys like Jordan, Dominique Wilkins, Ron Harper, Clyde Drexler—all high flyers who would attack the rim and throw it down on anybody, the ‘90s was the era of the dunk, particularly at the shooting guard position.

You can blame Jordan for making every team searching for an athletic 2 man to counter his Airness. The three-point shot wasn’t the weapon it is now, but if Petrovic played today, he could very well push Steph Curry for the title as the best shooter in the game.

Like Curry, Petrovic possessed range—we’re talking from the halfcourt logo, much like Steph. Petrovic didn’t show that range much in games, because, well, it was the ‘90s and head coaches would yank a player for hoisting a shot that was more synonymous with an MTV Rock ‘n Jock game. Still, Petrovic has the same confidence of flicking his quick release in the face of any defender. In an alternate reality, Petro would be leaving NBA teams scorched with his shot, especially when an offense is geared

GONE THE WAY OF THE DODO BIRD

There will always be players whose games transcend eras. As a general rule, an All-Star in one era is probably good enough to be the same kind of impactful player in an another era. However, this trend also works in reverse as there were guys whose games and style of play only fit best for the era in which they played. Today, with the game moving toward more positionless basketball, here is a short list of guys who would probably have difficulty making an impact in the League today.

Brad Daugherty Played from 1986 to 1994

was the prototypical big man of the ’90s who benefited from his value then, but would likely be out of place in today’s NBA. You know Jahlil Okafor’s struggles to get minutes? That would be an example of Daugherty in 2018.

Muggsy Bogues Played from 1987 to 2001

Bogues has the unique distinction of being the smallest player ever in the history of the NBA. Standing at just 5-3, Muggsy looked out of place in a League filled with guys who were a foot, and sometimes two feet taller The Cleveland Cavaliers' big man was the running mate of Mark Price, and benefitted greatly from his point guard’s ability to get him the ball in the post where he could easily score on the low blocks. Daugherty was a solid scorer and excellent rebounder, but not much of a shotblocker. Also, his game was completely confined to the low post where he mainly scored around the basket on dunks and layups around the rim. Despite being an All-Star five of his eight years in the NBA, Daugherty

than he was. Bogues didn’t excel in any era, but he was an excellent floor general and distributor, and complemented his All-Star teammates in Larry Johnson and Alonzo Mourning very well. Unfortunately, in today’s NBA, his size would definitely be a huge detriment, especially on defense where scoring point guards put so much pressure on opposing defenses.

Having an undersized PG, especially one who has offensive shortcomings, would not be tolerated now. Also, because he wasn’t a great scorer or three-point marksman, Bogues would probably have a hard time making a roster today.

Derek Fisher Played from 1996 to 2014

In the ever-present argument of RINGSSS defining individual greatness, a player like Derek Fisher is immortalized because he was able to propel his team to victory. But let’s be honest here: When it comes to the five championships D-Fish has, the pecking order of credit for them goes something like this: Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, Phil Jackson,

Jerry West, Pau Gasol, Mitch Kupchak, trainer Gary Vitti—you get the point.

Fisher was a very serviceable player and likely more valuable to the Lakers than any other franchise (see his stops at Golden State, Oklahoma City, Utah and Dallas for reference). Fisher has made some big shots for the Lakers, there’s no discounting that, but the rest of the time, he was a pedestrian point guard. Fisher definitely benefited from the winning his Lakers teams did and the triangle offense employed by those teams that masked the deficiency of point guard play.

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around getting the Croatian free at every possession. The “Dragon” only played four years in the NBA before a tragic 1993 car accident took his life in Germany. The 6-5 Petrovic shot 44 percent from behind the three-point line for his career, while averaging better than 20 points a night in his last two NBA seasons, which led a Nets roster that featured . Not simply just a shooter, Petrovic was a lethal scorer who used his deadly jumper to get to the rim. In 1992, he had back-toback 30-point performances on back-to-back nights against the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs. Later that same season, he would drop 39 points on the Boston Celtics and 38 points against the Indiana Pacers. In his firstever NBA playoff game as the lead guy on a team, he went for 40 points against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Petrovic was well on his way to becoming

Bill Laimbeer Played from 1980 to 1994

The man is a legend in Detroit and probably hasn’t had to pay for a meal or drink there since 1990. One of the front men to the “Bad Boys” days of the Pistons, Laimbeer had some modern facets in his game. At 6-11, Laimbeer

intimidation, cheap shots and attitude that he instilled to the roster. For starters, in 2018 NBA, half of Laimbeer’s “intangibles” would result in flagrant and technical fouls. With that part of his game negated, you’ll be left with an average-in-2018 shot and a slowmoving liability on the pick-and-roll.

The Triangle Played from 1990 to 2011

The jury is still out on the triangle getting credit for those six Chicago titles in the ‘90s and the five in Los Angeles during the first decade of this century.

It was a common denominator for both teams, but so was Phil Jackson’s ability as head coach to bond a team together, and, oh right, the otherworldly talents he had on both of those championship squads. Jackson deserves credit for the navigation of some talented but potentially volatile personalities in Michael Jordan, Dennis Rodman, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal. He also

flew against the norm of bigs at the time offensively, preferring to snipe from 15-20 feet. That ability allowed the real engine of those championship Pistons teams, Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars, to do their damage. But Laimbeer’s value to the pair of Detroit titles was his

the first European superstar in the NBA. Even the legendary NBA Jam videogame would be affected by Petrovic’s hot hand.

“One night we were playing Mortal Kombat and there was a Jam machine next to it, and all of a sudden the game started calling out ‘Petrovic!’

‘Petrovic!’” Mark Turmell, the game's lead designer, told ESPN.com.

“Everyone started freaking out. Something weird was going on with the software, and to this day, if you have an original NBA Jam machine every once in a while it will just yell out ‘Petrovic!’ It’s wild.”

Sidney Moncrief Played from 1979 to 1991 At 6-3 and 180 pounds, Moncrief was one of the more physically imposing guards in the early and mid-’80s. He was an incredible athlete in his day with a high motor, and tenacious on the glass as a rebounder, who could also run the floor, get to the basket and finish with an array of moves. But where the five-time All-Star really made his mark, and what would get him on an NBA roster today, was his stellar play on defense.

Nicknamed the “Squid,” Moncrief was a surpeme one-on-one defender.

It was a reputation earned when none other than Jordan cosigned that sentiment, along along with any number of other players who faced off against him.

“The player Sidney reminds me of most today is Kawhi Leonard,” says Dr. Lloyd Walton, an NBA Player’s Association career counselor, and former teammate of Moncrief’s in Milwaukee. “Every year, you’ve seen Kawhi

recognized the importance of the role players and getting them to play around the team’s strengths. But the triangle being a reason for those 11 parades? It hasn’t shown to work in New York, where Jackson tried to build a Knicks team around the system during his run as team president. It also didn’t generate championships when the talent wasn’t there when Jordan decided to play baseball and after and immediately after O'Neal lost the power struggle in L.A. and got traded. Even Jackson’s triangle-based disciples (Kurt Rambis, Jim Cleamons, Bill Cartwright, Frank Hamblen, Brian Shaw and Derek Fisher; the lone expection is Steve Kerr, while the jury is still deliberating on Luke Walton) have not found much traction as head coaches. The triangle, for many reasons—diminishing point guard play, relies a lot on low-post action and largely eschews the three-point shot— isn’t a good fit in today’s game, which emphasizes point guard position, has largely abandoned low post play and champions the three ball.

Most of the ’90s Era Power Forwards* Played from 1990 to 1999

Power forward is arguably the one position in the NBA that has evolved the most over the years. These days, players at this position can handle the ball, push it on the fastbreak, shoot and

score. This certainly wasn’t the case in the ’90s where power forwards were essentially the Monstars. They were musclebound players whose calling card was rebounds and to step into a fracas when your star players take a bump. We don’t want to name names, but there

was one of this type on every roster in the decade. Sure, the better ones had a jump hook or maybe had a steady trigger from 15 feet out, but their main role was to hang around the basket and grab offensive and defensive rebounds. In today’s NBA with their expanded duties at the 4 spot, a lot of these players would have to find other lines of employment. * The were a few exceptions, most notably being Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, Chris Webber and Shawn Kemp.

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get better and Sidney was just like that. Every year he added something to his game and he was determined to be better the next year than he was the year before.”

Known as arguably one of the most underrated superstars of all time, Moncrief was the ultimate competitor who wouldn’t quit on any play and who would come at you hard, nonstop, on both ends of the floor for 48 minutes a night. Over a career that spanned 11 years, Moncrief was a five-time All-Star, fourtime First Team All-Defensive selection and the first guard to ever win Defensive Player of the Year in consecutive seasons.

He was also a decent scorer, putting up more than 20 points per night for four consecutive seasons. Moncrief has yet to be selected to join the host of other legends enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, but if a guy excels on the defensive side of the ball like Moncrief, you can bet there will always be a place for him in the NBA, regardless of era. You know how Chris Paul is celebrated for being the preeminent defensive PG in the game? Moncrief was even better.

Lafayette “Fat” Lever Played from 1982 to 1994 Another versatile guard from the ’80s, Lever was a guy who could impact the game in a variety of ways, and he was good enough to, at times, take a game completely over and deliver a victory. Lever’s best years in the NBA came as a member of the Denver Nuggets, the team with one of the best offenses in the League at the time. Lever was the running mate of another alltime great scorer, Alex English, but “Fat” wasn’t just a sidekick.

He was a do-it-all kind of guard who excelled in multiple areas on the floor. The best aspect of his game was his ability to rebound the ball and push the ball up the court on the fast break. At 6-3 and 170 pounds, in his prime, Lever averaged 8.9, 8.1, 9.3 and 9.3 rebounds per game between 1987 and 1990, to go with his 19 PPG. He was also an exceptional distributor, averaging at least 7.5 assists per game for five consecutive seasons, and was named an AllStar twice in his career, in 1988 and 1990. Fat Lever was also an

excellent ball hawk who holds a career steals average of 2.2 per game.

If this all sounds similar to Russell Westbrook, then you’re following.

The idea of Lever replicating a Big O season is up for debate, but if Lever had the same usage rate as Westbrook, who knows? He played at a time with fewer possessions and was never the featured player on his squads.

Compare this: In Lever’s two seasons closest to a triple-double average (1986-87: 18.9 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 8.0 APG; 1988-89: 19.8, 9.3, 7.9), his usage percentage (estimate of the number of plays the player is involved in) were 21.1 and 21.4. In Westbrook’s memorable tripdub campaign last season, his usage percentage was 41.7. It’s no guarantee, but the math is there, and Lever collected plenty of numbers in the box score.

Mark Price Plated from 1986 to 1998 The Cleveland Cavaliers were one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference in the late ‘80s and might’ve seen a Finals appearance if not for the presence of Jordan, who ended their playoff run in what seemed like every season. A big reason for those excellent Cavs teams was Price running the show. At 6-0 and 170 pounds, Price was an excellent scorer and distributor for his size despite many nights being one of the smallest and least athletic players on the court. But his best attributes were his ability to shoot the three-pointer at a high clip either in the halfcourt setting or above the break, his intermediate game that was second to none, and his free-throw shooting, as he led the NBA in this category three times in his 12-year career. Price never did crack the vaunted 50/40/90 field-goal/threepoint/free-throw shooting club that is the modern-day triple crown of shooting, but he did finish his career with a .472/.402/.904 mark.

Beyond shooting, Price was a great playmaker, using his shooting threat, deceptive first step and very underrated ballhandling (his crossover was compact and devoid of flash, but deadly effective) to probe the defense and set up teammates.

That combination of shooting and playmaking would’ve made Price a huge commodity in the current era of the NBA. As the current head coach at the UNC Charlotte, Price still watches a lot of NBA basketball and knows exactly what would make him stand out in the League today. “Definitely, my ability to shoot the three would be a great asset for me today,” says Price. “Back when I played, guys didn’t really take a lot of three-point shots in the course of a game like they do now. Today, you have guys like Steph Curry taking 10 threes a game because NBA offenses are more open and free flowing, plus the rules have changed that cuts out on a lot of the physical play that we had in the ‘80s and ‘90s,” says Price, before delivering this quip, “I certainly would’ve made a lot more money today than I did back then.”

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The Ties that Bind

and the Glue The NBAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best at joining the parts into teams.

064 BILL BAPTIST; NOAH GRAHAM (2); NED DISHMAN; MELISSA MAJCHRZAK (2); MICHAEL J. LEBRECHT II; BRIAN BABINEAU/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

that Bonds

By Josh Eberley #41

T

he NBA brand may thrive due to its superstars, larger-than-life marvels with even more exuberant personalities. But don’t be fooled, the individual franchises rise above their relative peers thanks to the selfless, oftentimes neglected glue guys that grind it out each and every night. Minimal headlines but tons of heart and a lot of winning is the telltale mark of a quality one. In baseball, he can sometimes be identified through the dirty uniform, but on the basketball court he can be tougher to spot. You won’t typically find him amassing your traditional counting stats, but if you dig into plus-minus numbers and other advanced metrics, you will see a correlation into how his presences intensifies the spotlight on his star teammates, and more importantly, helps his team win.

During the first week of the NBA season, Dejounte Murray of the San Antonio Spurs told reporters, “I got that winning in my DNA, and I just do anything to win. If I don’t score a point, I’m going to go rebound. If I don’t rebound, I’m going to try to facilitate or I’m going to try to play defense. That’s the thing you’ve got to have. You’ve got to be able to do things that you can when you’re not having a good night.”

You can’t sum it up better than that: Find a way to contribute and if that road closes, find another route, so as long as it leads to a win.

*The list was forged by combining ESPN’s Real Plus Minus (RPM) and maintaining a usage percentage (USG%) of less than 20 percent.

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1. Draymond Green RPM: +7.14 Usage Percentage: 17.3

Special doesn’t do Green justice but it’s fitting he kicks this list off.

He’s the premium model of a glue guy, a bonafide star that contributes in multiple facets without having to be the lead scorer. Green is so sticky that he sometimes gets credited for being the main cog in the Warriors’ engine, and not the other way around.

Green’s detractors will often attempt to trivialize his value with a redraft hypothetical.

They’ll say something similar to, “Green can’t be a top 15 player, you aren’t taking him top 15 if we started over today.” Those people are wrong. There are many, many players who can put the ball in the hoop at an inspiring rate but very few who add value across anywhere near the range Green does.

First, there’s the subtle offensive strengths. Green is quietly one of the best transition players in the game. As much as we all tend to over-focus on the deep-shooting exploits of the Splash Brothers and Kevin Durant, the Warriors’ nightly big runs are fueled by their ability to get in transition, and it all starts with Green. Very few players can go coast-to-coast like Green. There’s an art to it and Green brings the right amount of power, energy, and playmaking capability to really fluster a defense. Then, there’s the obvious. Green is a ferocious beast in the paint, plays way bigger than he actually is, and has the versatility needed to switch from big to small in today’s NBA. His defense—whether it leads to a block or steal, but more often just a tough shot that's off the mark—ignites the Dubs’ fastbreak. When Green was on the court last season, the Warriors had a Defensive Rating (DRTG) of 99.3.

When Green was sitting, the Warriors had a team worst DRTG of 104.1.

Green is the general, he makes that defense hum and he’s the guy the Warriors turn to when a leak turns up. As an exercise, search your mind for a player current or former that can anchor a defense, run an offense and lead the fastbreak. Slim pickings, and that’s why Green is so special.

Even beyond the deep numbers, Green brings something that even the best stat geek cannot quantify: grit. Many people still believe the Warriors would be gunning for the fourpeat this season had Green not been suspended in Game 5 of the 2016 Finals that gave the Cavaliers new life in the series, and an eventual comeback from the 3-1 deficit. It’s that emotion that is another area that makes Green so indispensible to the team. On a professional and relatively even-keeled outfit like the Warriors, Green is the one that is pushing the emotional and psychological agenda—to opponents and teammates alike. He’s as likely get in the face of his higherprofile teammates after a bad play as he is to trash talk an opposing player after a blocked shot. For a team like the Warriors who are favorites almost every night and are looking to stay on their perch, the edge that Green provides keeps them from getting bored and complacent.

Just how rare of a glue guy is Green? Good enough to be selected to two All-NBA Teams and make us question whether he is an actual glue guy or star.

2. Rudy Gobert

RPM: +6.37 Usage Percentage: 15.6

Defense is a theme with this list. Glue guys that only bring it on offense rarely cement their case as a key component to a team’s success. Gobert will have a chance to really showcase his offense this season with the departure of Gordon Hayward, but he’s a breadwinner on defense. The

term, "generational" is a hyperbolic term in most cases, but Gobert is a generational rim protector. Aptly nicknamed “The Stifle Tower,” Gobert had the best defensive real plus-minus (DRPM, a complicated metric that tries to sum up a player's positive/negative impact on defense) last season, leading the entire League with 6.02.

The NBA is a beautiful League, full of truly exceptional physical athletes. It’s easy to forget that many of these players are truly legendary in their structural makeup. Gobert is 7-2, with a 7-9 wingspan. It’s hard to truly appreciate that if he’s not right in front of you, but Gobert is gargantuan.

Forget scoring; getting a good look at the basket is a tall task with him in front of you. There’s a reason many believed, even prior to Gordon Hayward’s departure, that the Jazz’s best player started at center.

Gobert will have a chance to bring it offensively this season. An elite rim runner and roll man already, his mettle will be tested with Hayward gone.

The NBA is moving further and further away from traditional post-ups so Gobert will have to continue to showcase his mobility if he’s to improve on the 14 PPG he averaged last year.

3. DeAndre Jordan RPM: +4.55 Usage Percentage: 14.3

Who is Jordan without Chris Paul? A limited offensive player with a lot to prove? Perhaps. Much is uncertain for a player often only partially credited for his victories. But the truth is that Jordan's an unstoppable physical force—when paired with a capable playmaker. (Jordan was assisted on 67 percent or more of his field goals in each of the last five seasons.)

The Clippers big man will have a chance to show he’s capable of more this season. An increased role is something Jordan was promised two years ago when a last-minute intervention prevented him from abandoning the franchise. Doc Rivers had to lead an epic quest to reclaim Jordan’s heart and prevent catastrophe. After heightened expectations, it was business as usual for the Clippers center, albeit with two more All-NBA selections, including a First Team nod in 2015-16.

Jordan might not get as many touches without an All-Star "feeding the big dog," as they say, but he'll eat. He might not get many shots, but when he does, Jordan will covert them, usually with a dunk (if Jordan had a goto move, it’d be the alley-oop). He’s led the League in field goal percentage for the past five seasons. But even without a catching an oop, his value is immense. He’s the Clippers’ rim protector, their best defender, vacuums up almost a quarter of rebounds he sees and is a long-standing pillar of what was the franchises’ golden era—not bad for a second-round pick in 2008.

Jordan’s stability and physicality allow Blake Griffin to thrive as the allaround athlete. Jordan grounds the Clippers on defense and he provides them with second opportunities on offense. He’s set to be in the top five for rebounding for the fifth straight year, never finishing worse than fourth on the offensive glass. Like Gobert and Green, Jordan is an All-NBA caliber player who continues to stand out amongst his peers despite the lack of offensive creation.

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4. Otto Porter

6. Robert Covington

What do you do when a lanky swingman, who showed defensive prowess early but lacked a jumper, turns around and leads the League in three-point shooting?

Hell, you pay him.

That’s exactly what the Wizards did. Porter took a leap and earned every dollar after a career year. Porter shot 43 percent from the three-point line and his growth elevated the Wizards perimeter to a new level, beyond just a two-man show of John Wall and Bradley Beal.

The defense is a coach’s dream and the extra point from the deep shot makes advanced stat geeks salivate, but Porter holds the key to unlocking the Wizards’ potential. Wall is an amazing talent but he’s well below the mean as an outside shooter.

Porter helps alleviate that issue. Another perfectly situated trait of a glue guy comes from providing consistent support in areas where the primary star struggles. Porter’s size and ability to move without the basketball perfectly fits him next to the League’s most ball-dominant guard. The space he provides gives Wall the real estate to operate and Beal the extra breathing room on looks—it’s no wonder the two All-Stars lobbied hard for management to re-up Porter. The Wizards have continued to bet on their young core to keep growing, and the early progress Porter has made is the best supporting evidence of a successful wager.

If the Philadelphia 76ers ever reach the lofty expectations beset by their aggressive rebuilding strategy, the credit will undoubtedly go to the fruits yielded from the process. Joel Embiid is the process personified. Ben Simmons will be the multidimensional star that evokes Magic Johnson.

Markelle Fultz will overcome his early-career shoulder woes and become a star combo guard and third All-Star. Revisionist history will paint Sam Hinkie as a visionary for putting the franchise in a position to draft all those stars that will bring forth a new golden era of Philadelphia basketball. Yet, Hinkie’s stroke of genius might not have even involved the draft.

In one of his first moves as the team’s GM, Hinkie committed a long-term contract to relative unknown Robert Covington.

Up until that point, Covington was an undrafted forward from Tennessee State whose claim to fame was being named the G-League Rookie of the Year in 2013 as part of the Houston Rockets. As the Process played itself out—the revolving door of players, lottery picks and trades for more stashable draft picks—Covington was the constant, mostly starting at the forward spot, which chipping in his customary 13 or so points and rock-solid defense for a losing outfit.

The addition of veterans like J.J. Redick and Amir Johnson will help immensely in the turnaround, but both are limited in their skill sets.

Covington, like Porter, has all the tools necessary to be a treasured 3&D cog for the Sixers. His shot isn’t where Porter’s is, but if it gets there— watch out. Covington is already a legitimate all-defense talent. In addition to his defense, Covington’s game is flexible. He can play up and down throughout the lineup with ease. If the Sixers want to start Fultz, Simmons and Redick on the perimeter, they can play Covington at the power forward position. If the Sixers want to go big, playing Dario Saric alongside Embiid and Simmons, Covington can guard the opposing shooting guard.

Versatility is in devastating demand across the League and Covington brings versatility in spades for the Sixers.

RPM: +3.56 Usage Percentage: 14.3

5. Jae Crowder

RPM: +3.89 Usage Percentage: 16.1

The Boston Celtics added a lot of talent this offseason. Adding Hayward and Kyrie Irving is quite a productive summer, but in adding that All-Star duo they also gave up some grit in players like Avery Bradley and Crowder.

Crowder was acquired by the Cleveland Cavaliers for just that reason. After a whipping in the Finals, Cleveland needed to add defenders with some fight in them.

If you’ve forgotten, Crowder was part of the Dallas Mavericks' package that went to Boston for Rajon Rondo back in December of 2014. After a slow start in Boston, Crowder improved his shooting each of the next two years. Last year he shot a career-high 40 percent from deep for the Celtics.

Crowder’s minutes had also increased each year he played with Boston.

Crowder has earned his reputation as a defensive dog. While some may challenge his mobility or lack thereof, his competitive spirit and commitment to defense are beyond refute. Despite playing on a team with bullish defensive players in Marcus Smart, Al Horford and Bradley, it was when Crowder sat that the team allowed their highest DRTG (106.9). Crowder will look to have a similar impact in Cleveland’s climb back to the pinnacle.

RPM: +3.55 Usage Percentage: 18.0

7. Andre Iguodala RPM: +3.53 Usage Percentage: 11.7

There’s a mentality associated with glue guys. Adjectives like selfless are peppered all over role players and glue guys for a reason. When those compliments are being handed out it’s hard not to think of Iguodala. He’s the prototype model of the past few years and taken the torch of nostats All-Star from Shane Battier. Except Iguodala was an All-Star at one point and athletic enough to have been robbed of a Slam Dunk title. He was even briefly the face of the franchise in Philadelphia post-Allen Iverson. In Philly, he was criticized of not being more of a “superstar” after the team bestowed him with a big contract. It wasn’t until he signed on with Golden State that Iguodala’s game would be fully appreciated. His arrival in Golden State would also be a critical domino in creating the current dynasty and the Hampton Five. Long before Kevin Durant even dreamed of the resume benchmarks he’d hit 067

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in the Bay, Iguodala was visualizing the potential. More than that, he saw how he could help the young Warriors realize those goals.

Like Manu Ginobili before him, Iguodala has been the jack-of-all-trades second unit leader for a perennial contender. His versatility opens up a slew of options for head coach Steve Kerr as Iguodala is a chameleon in any lineup the Warriors employ. His defense on LeBron James during the 2015 Finals earned him a Finals MVP award. It’s an underrated honor, one that only 30 other NBA players throughout history can claim.

Iguodala is one of the worst scorers on this list but he’s never needed to score in bunches to contribute. A gifted athlete, playmaker and defender that has continually added sustenance to the Warriors wherever they may have needed it, Iguodala sacrificed and he came out ahead.

Don’t be surprised if a Hall of Fame bid arises in the coming years.

8. Cody Zeller

RPM: +3.53 Usage Percentage: 11.7

The Charlotte Hornets made a splash this offseason trading for Dwight Howard. They will be the fourth team in six seasons to bet on the big man finding redemption after some sour campaigns. Zeller is the reason why it's less of a risk for the Hornets than it was for the Atlanta Hawks last year. He was the most important player for the Hornets defensively last season and when he missed time, the defense broke in pieces like an infant running with a LEGO creation.

Zeller missed 20 games last year and the Hornets went 3-17 without him (and 33-20 with him). When Zeller was on the floor the team enjoyed a net rating of +5.5; when he sat they were a -3.6. His impact was immense and in most cases taking a risk on Howard might seem foolish with Zeller already locked in, but it’s the insurance Zeller provides that has allowed the Hornets to gamble on Howard this season.

Zeller’s impact offensively also goes beyond the box score. Over the last couple seasons, the NBA has tracked hustle stats and Zeller is a winner in that department. Amongst the League leaders in screen assists per game, a career year from Kemba Walker was at least partly due to Zeller clearing up space. A subtle note but that’s what glue guys do.

9. Danilo Gallinari RPM: +2.89 Usage Percentage: 19.2

Some themes are apparent with most players in the glue guy mold.

There’s a commonality stemming from notable sacrifice, effort and consistency to contribute in a wide array of ways that are not always picked up on first glance. But above all else, for the non-elite members of this list, there’s a lack of acknowledgement. An alarmingly large amount of glue guys aren’t appreciated nationally. Simply put, they’re underrated. Gallinari is one of those guys.

If Gallinari wasn’t cursed with injuries, he might be an outright star. He gets to the free-throw line at a well above average rate, he shoots from deep, he can run the offense and contrary to widespread belief, he’s a steady, if not good, defensive player.

Gallinari is 6-10 and can play

shooting guard, small forward or power forward. The Clippers frontcourt of Gallinari, Griffin and Jordan is massive, and when Jordan sits, they have an ideal small-ball lineup by rotating each of Griffin and Gallinari up one. The Clippers will need Gallinari to be a secondary scorer and creator with Paul now a member of the Houston Rockets.

10. Myles Turner

RPM: +2.66 Usage Percentage: 18.1

NBA and mythology are forever linked. Society’s love of fables combined with the world’s most magnificent physical beings make it an ideal pairing. Last year, the, “Unicorn” moniker got a lot of play for Kristaps Porzingis, Giannis Antetokounmpo, KarlAnthony Towns and Embiid. The forgotten man in that equation is Myles Turner. A big man equal parts rim protector and stretch 5, Turner offers the best of both worlds. Unfairly excluded from the Unicorn club, Turner might have to start his own mythical unit this season. Last year, Turner hit 40 triples and blocked 172 shots, a feat that only Raef LaFrentz and Andrei Kirilenko had completed previous years. Neither would be categorized as stars, but history shows that both were unique talents and All-Glue Teamers.

Turner will be asked to carry a very large load this season, but that title has also fallen to him by default. With Paul George gone to Oklahoma City, Turner is the new face of the franchise. It’s probably too early for Turner to fill the shoes that George left behind. The season will almost be over by the time Turner turns 22 and unlike those other unicorns, Turner’s offensive game still needs some polish. The Pacers would be wise to keep Turner in the background, letting him do what he excels at: swatting shots, control the boards and work in that three-pointer.

11. Joe Ingles

RPM: +2.55 Usage Percentage: 14.2

The sad news for Utah Jazz fans? Hayward left. The happy news? Your franchise did everything right and Ingles is still there. Seriously, like Gallinari, Ingles is a much better scorer than your average glue guy. Ingles blasts the three-ball so routinely fans anticipate a swished three from Ingles like most anticipate a free throw from anybody else. Ingles hit 46 percent of his catch-andshoot triples last year. For reference, Steph Curry also hit that same mark last year. No, we’re not making comparisons, but it’s not wrong to say that Ingles is deadly if left open.

Ingles is also stereotyped into the shooter who lacks other skills department, but he’s no specialist. He averaged 4.1 assists per 36 minutes and can be the secondary playmaker to newly acquired Ricky Rubio if he’s asked to do so. Ingles won’t create the assists through his own, but with the aid of movement and schemes, he could be the deliverer of dimes.

Ingles has the make of a player who could be a lot more involved than

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he was last season, not to such a degree that he falls off this list (he’ll always have a spot on it), but inevitably the Utah Jazz will be a better team if Ingles is a focus for them.

12. Patrick Beverley RPM: +2.48 Usage Percentage: 14.6

Beverley is the next dog on this list and he’s got the biggest bark. Like Crowder, he’s just got that visible ferocity to his defense. Having proven he’s not to be trifled with in both the regular and postseason, Beverley has had scrappy moments with every high-profile point guard you can think of. Russell Westbrook, John Wall, Damian Lillard, Mike Conley and Steph Curry have all faced up Beverley for 94 feet for 30-plus minutes a night.

There’s a case to be made that Beverley’s physicality and chippy play outweigh his actual defensive skill, but it works. The Houston Rockets had a net rating of +7.3 with Beverley on the court last year, compared to +6.3 with MVP runner-up James Harden. Beverley had the second best DRPM of any point guard last year. As much as he plays bump-and-run coverage, Beverley doesn’t often get burnt.

He may get underneath PG’s jerseys, but he’s not one to leave his defense shorthanded gambling for steals. He’ll get his share of thefts (1.4 steals per game over his career), but still maintain position in front of his man.

The Los Angeles Clippers lost a superstar in Chris Paul but they did a magnificent job covering their losses with Beverley and Gallinari. Beverley is beloved in the locker room and was credited often with being the Rockets' vocal leader. His tenacity and grit are going to serve the Clippers well as they look to flip the page.

13. Trevor Ariza

RPM: +1.93 Usage Percentage: 13.7

The Rockets have endured a lot of change the last few years.

Polarizing personalities like Dwight Howard, Beverley, Ty Lawson and Josh Smith came and went. Harden had a rather disappointing season squished between two stunning, nearMVP seasons. The one constant through all the chaos for the Houston Rockets has been Ariza.

Ariza has played for six different teams since coming into the League back in 200405. An athletic prospect entering the NBA after one year at UCLA, Ariza was once thought of as a future scorer. After winning a championship ring with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2009 as one the team’s best defenders (the combination of Ariza and Lamar Odom formed the Lakers' long-limbed defensive wall), Ariza found his true calling. Ariza also played with Chris Paul back in 2011, so he’s the very apparent connector in many ways for this team.

Ariza isn’t in his prime anymore, but he’s still a long wing who defends multiple positions while spacing the floor. Ariza is heading into his 14th season, and for much of that stretch, he’s been asked to check the

opposing team’s best wing. He’s played with and against Tracy McGrady, Kobe Bryant, Beal, and Harden. That sort of experience, along with a tried and true skill set, is nearly invaluable to a Rockets team now suddenly lacking depth.

14. Steven Adams

RPM: +1.38 Usage Percentage: 15.5

When a franchise makes a tsunami-sized splash in player movement, much like the Oklahoma City Thunder did this offseason, it’s the glue guys who are tasked to guide the adjustment and make the sacrifices. It’ll be on the reigning MVP Westbrook to incorporate Carmelo Anthony and George into the offense but Adams gets the tall task of holding the defense together and picking up the crumbs on offense.

Don't forget, Adams and Alex Abrines are the last remaining pieces of the package Daryl Morey sent to Oklahoma City for Harden back in 2012.

Adams isn’t known as a defensive anchor, but that’s the goal for the New Zealand center heading into this season. Adams boasts a noteworthy amount of lateral quickness for a man his size and as a result was one of only 10 players to average at least one block and one steal per game last season. (that's a bar Covington and Green also both hit last season.)

Calling Adams a good offensive rebounder is selling him short; he’s elite in that capacity. When you’re on a team with three guys who score 20 in their sleep (and in that process, miss a lot of shots), every extra possession is a game changer. If Adams runs a tight ship defensively and continues his run of dominance on the offensive glass, the Thunder might genuinely push the Warriors come playoff time.

15. Al Horford

RPM: +1.06 Usage Percentage: 19.5

Horford is one of the more fascinating cases of a guy who is both underrated and overrated every season. Horford has glaring flaws—he’s not strong enough to fight off the more physical bigs and he’s neither a great rebounder nor rim protector. However, he’s an excellent playmaker from the center position. It’s that beautiful mastery of how to exist within Brad Stevens' offense and his meticulous shot selection that has unlocked Stevens’ system. Horford’s also a pretty good defender given his limitations from a size and strength perspective. He plays the passing lanes and his footwork is top notch.

Horford gave the Isaiah Thomas Celtics a perfect amount of balance. He should do the same for the Irving Celtics. Horford makes the stars shine brighter by producing in essentially every capacity of this game at an elevated level. No, he won’t block three shots a night, and no, he won’t go for 30 very often, but he will give you a balanced and consistent level of play at both ends. Horford is dependable regardless of what he’s being asked to do. He might be the most complete big man in the NBA, and that’s nothing to scoff at.

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MOST MOST MOST

VALUABLE VALUABLE VALUABLE

THE FUTURE IS NOW FOR THESE FIVE 25-AND-UNDERS.

THE FUTURE IS NOW FOR THESE FIVE 25-AND-UNDERS.

072 DANNY BOLLINGER; DAVID SHERMAN; ANDREW D. BERNSTEIN; NATHANIEL S. BUTLER; BART YOUNG/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

By Darryl Howerton #21

PRODIGIES PRODIGIES PRODIGIES I

t is amazing how many talking heads in the NBA family can rattle the best six basketball players off the top of their head and come up with the same six names, no matter whom you ask.

LeBron James. Kevin Durant. Stephen Curry. Russell Westbrook. James Harden. Kawhi Leonard.

Inevitably, this collection of Finals MVPs, regular season MVPs and their runners-up appears on everybody’s short lists of stars, scrambled in various orders, depending on the source. In fact, you’d have to go back to the 2013-14 NBA MVP vote count won by Kevin Durant to find an election that did not have a quartet of some collection of the other aforementioned names. That said, any NBA historian you surveyed—if asked a similar future-tilted question—likewise would name the same five future prospects over and over again.

Who are the best 25-and-under players in the NBA today?

And those five names—no matter whom you seemingly ask—also would come back in similar subset, too.

Giannis Antetokounmpo. Anthony Davis. Nikola Jokic. Kristaps Porzingis. Karl-Anthony Towns.

With a little research, it is not difficult to figure out why these particular five prospects-turned-prodigies continually appear on every basketball guru’s next-up list.

Even though each player is still on his come-up (scary thought), advanced metrics say these five in particular already are playing as well as the usual suspects on everybody’s MVP list.

The young blood should be waiting their turn to eat. Not these five. They’re hungry now.

Even though all five prodigies are much younger than the usual MVP candidates, who range in age from 26 (Kawhi) to 32 years old (LeBron), the young men already are measuring up to the greats in every metric besides age.

Davis finished the 2016-17 NBA season with the fourth-best Player Efficiency Rating (27.59), sandwiched between third-place finisher Leonard (27.55) and fifth-place Harden (27.37).

Not far behind them sat eighth-place Nikola Jokic (26.40), 10th-place Antetokounmpo (26.13) and 11thplace Towns (26.00).

In the other key NBA measuring stick, Real Plus-Minus, three of our Most Valuable Prodigies cracked the top 20 ranks, which is really unusual for players so young: the 22-year-old Jokic posted a +6.73 RPM last season, ranking sixth in the NBA; the 24-year-old Davis posted a +4.35 RPM, ranking 17th; the 23-year-old Antetokounmpo posted 073

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a +4.21 RPM a season ago, ranking 19th; the 22-yearold Towns posted a +2.13 RPM, ranking 51st.

Though Porzingis trailed these prodigies far back in both PER and RPM last season—with a 17.49 PER and +1.59 RPM—his recent assault upon the early goings of the 2017-18 season is making him too as strong an early MVP candidate as the others.

After all, the 22-year-old Porzingis has taken New York and the League by storm in the first couple months, averaging 30 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks in 33 minutes per game, while posting a 28.72 PER that ranks sixth in the NBA (through nine contests).

Upon closer inspection, it is easy to see why these five prodigies rank in everybody’s collective consciousness as the next class of Most Valuable Player candidates set to join the current MVP class.

But what about Joel Embiid, one might ask. He’s on the cusp of 24 years and has shown to be impactful while on the court. While he’s quite the tantalizing prospect—his career per-36 numbers of 28.4 points, 12.1 rebounds and 2.9 blocks is the epitome of MVP—Embiid has yet to play a full season of games (at the time of this writing, he had just 48 games) and has missed two and a half campaigns. We hope he proves us wrong, since Embiid’s presence makes for a better NBA, but we’ll leave him off this list—for now.

But back to the quintet of potential MVPs. No other 22-to-24-year-old prospect comes close to these premier peers who already match up well with the perennial MVP candidates.

Who knows?

This current 2017-18 NBA season indeed may be the season where our Superstar Six merge with our Fab Five, forming some type of NBA Top 10 tandem of terrific teammate talents.

We here at HOOP are not the only ones to notice.

This past summer, several present and future Hall of Fame heroes said it was high time these prodigies seize the day from their older brethren.

You remember Kobe Bryant’s August 27 tweet reply to Antetokounmpo, right? The one where he challenged the upstart Antetokounmpo to set the MVP in his sights this season.

Or when Davis, already a four-time NBA All-Star, acknowledged on a May 16 podcast with his Hall of Fame college coach John Calipari that younger Kentucky alum Towns is now competing at his elite level, despite being only 22 years old.

Calipari: “He’s better than you thought he was. Would you give me that? Say, Yes.” Davis: “He is. He is. And I’m going to tell you why … Karl talked so much trash in college. He was like, ‘I’m not worried about nobody in the NBA. Yada yada ya. So I’m like, ‘Man, you just think you’re this nice.’ So I will criticize every little thing that he does.’ … So anytime I play Karl, I take it to heart.”

Calipari: “You’re trying to get 40.”

Davis: “Every time. Now as he develops: he added a three-point shot; he can dribble the ball; he can post up—all that. Now it’s like a little head-tohead every time we play. I might have 40 and he might have 35. He is a lot better than I actually thought. He can do a lot for his team, inside and out. It’s always definitely one of the best battles I have every time I go against him.”

Calipari: “I thought he should have been an All-Star this year, but he’ll be an All-Star.”

Towns: “Yeah, for sure.”

Same holds true this season for Porzingis, who burst out of the shadow of the coaching legend who drafted him fourth in 2015, former Knicks GM Phil Jackson, and his Hall of Fame ex-teammate Carmelo Anthony, with 40-, 37- and 38-point nights in three victories during a first week of a November to remember.

With neither Phil nor Melo casting a shadow on his considerable 7-3, 240-pound frame, the third-year Knick now is free to showcase his heightened Dirk Nowitzki talents on unsuspecting giants, who are usually half a foot smaller.

“New York is his now,” Anthony told the New York Daily News in early November, while also adding Porzingis will be faced with a big decision this summer when he is eligible to receive a junior-max contract from the Knicks.

“People want to win. And there’s going to have to come that point where he makes that decision to re-sign here or not. I know him personally, so I know how bad he wants to win, by any means.”

The buzz is also loud with Jokic. Hall of Fame center Bill Walton, who knows a thing or two about passing bigs as he is known as one of the finest passers from the center position, laughed off any Jokic comparisons to himself.

“Nikola Jokic reminds me of Nikola Jokic,” says Walton. “There is no one like him. He’s super super fun. We should do a brain scan and studies of this guy—on the visual capabilities of passing—because he sees the floor like few players in basketball history.

“He sees the court the way Pelé saw the soccer field. The way Joe Montana saw the football field. The way LeBron James, Magic Johnson and Steve Nash saw the basketball court. The way Magnus Carlsen sees the chessboard.

“These guys who see the future before it happens. That vision of knowing how it’s going to play out before it happens. He is so fun to watch. Oh my God. I just marvel. No player in basketball history has elicited more oohs and ahhs and ‘Did you see that?’ than Steve Nash.

“When I watch Nikola Jokic, I feel the same feeling. It’s brilliant. It’s beautiful. It’s team. It’s happiness.”

Now it is just a matter of time before the fans, media, players and coaches catch up to these Hall of Famous professors and place both Jokic, Porzingis and Towns on their first NBA All-Star team this February, and then place Antetokounmpo on their first top-five NBA MVP ballot this June, just as they did for Davis in 2014-15 when he finished fifth in the MVP vote two years ago.

For we are now witness to the merger of the Fantastic Five 25-and-under class with the aforementioned Superstar Six. Even the Justice League must be feeling a bit jealous about this collection of talent under one League.

To fully appreciate each superhero’s gifts, it is best to tell their origin story in chronological order, going from oldest (Davis) to youngest (Towns).

Let us start with Davis a.k.a. A.D. a.k.a. Phatman (he was a fat baby, taking all of his twin sister’s food) a.k.a. The Brow (short for his trademark unibrow).

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Growing up in Englewood, Illinois, one of Chicago’s most dangerous neighborhoods, Davis was sheltered by a big family who put a hoop in the backyard just so Anthony would not be forced to play ball at the neighborhood park and instead could invite friends over to play ball at the house.

The investment paid off like a backyard treasure chest.

For as Davis grew in height—from 6-2 as a high school sophomore to 6-10 as a senior—he also grew in stature, becoming a five-star basketball recruit before signing with Kentucky and Calipari, who in turn, helped groom Davis to become the No. 1 pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, only months after they won an NCAA championship together.

When A.D. first entered the League, he wanted to be like Tim Duncan.

Davis’ first New Orleans head coach Monty Williams would regale the youngster with tales of his former Spurs teammate and pupil (Williams was an assistant on the Spurs 2005 NBA championship team).

“I was always one of those guys who wanted to win championships like Tim Duncan,” says Davis, who now stands a Duncan-like 6-10, 253 pounds. “I looked up to Tim and the example he set—as a teammate, as a leader and as an elite player on both defense and offense.

“Monty always had great stories about Tim, and that insight to Tim’s world showed me the way he led the Spurs. That was the way I wanted to lead our team here too.”

Davis studied other All-Stars.

When Davis would play on USA Basketball gold-medal 2012 Olympic and 2014 World Cup squads, he would spend just as much time studying the workouts of others as he spent working on his own moves.

His college mentor, Calipari, could be visiting with him after practice, and Davis remembers not being able to listen to his friend because other USA Basketball teammates were still working.

On his podcast, Calipari laughs at the memory of Davis ignoring him or giving one-word answers because Davis could not take his eyes off of Durant or Curry.

“I remember that,” Davis says. “They were working out on that far court.

I just tried to watch and see what they do. Steph, Kevin, Paul George, James Harden. Four of the best scorers in the League right now. I just tried to watch and see what they do to better my game.”

He loved watching the footers (basketball slang for sevenfooters) most of all.

Durant's practice was pure joy for Davis, who would study the way the long, lean athlete created his own shots, whether matched against smaller opponents (“He gets to his spots and shoots over guys”) to bigger defenders (“If it’s Dwight Howard or Trevor Ariza, it’s one back down, turnaround jumper. Or back down, Dirk shot. Face up, shoot over the top.”).

He’d watch the footwork of all four and the moves that came from those fundamentals. He’d watch how Steph would come off pick-and-rolls. How he’d play off double-teams.

As a 19- and 21-year-old at the Olympics and FIBA World Cup, Davis was laying the blueprint for the type of 24-year-old we see today.

When you watch AD play—whether he is defending like Duncan or scoring like Durant—it all makes sense now.

As legend has it, in the world of Marvel Comics created by the great storyteller Stan Lee, Mimic was a superhero who was able to temporarily copy the superpowers and knowledge of anyone within close range.

As the Davis and now Antetokounmpo stories attest, the power of Mimic indeed exists in the NBA today.

It is not a foreign concept by any means.

Davis’ younger peer, Antetokounmpo, who turned 23 in December, made no secret when he broke in the League that he was trying to clone Durant’s game as soon as he saw the body likeness he shared with the man a halfdozen years older.

When the Oklahoma City Thunder played Antetokounmpo’s Milwaukee Bucks during his rookie season, the NBA teenager literally stared at Durant like a lovesick puppy dog, trying to memorize each of Durant’s basketball moves in warmups as he was mesmerized by KD’s aura throughout pregame.

Durant noticed this, saying he would catch the kid literally staring at him as he warmed up.

It makes sense, in retrospect.

Antetokounmpo was in a foreign land playing, in some ways to him, a foreign game, with strangers all around.

Durant, in his elegant, lengthy pose, was the only thing that looked familiar to him on the court.

In Durant, Antetokounmpo saw the best basketball version of himself.

Sure, young Giannis was a first-round, 15th pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, but he was about as far away from your typical NBA prospect as one could imagine.

He felt like a freak in this foreign world.

Think about it. The 18-year-old who was drafted by the Bucks stood 6-8½ and weighed a lanky 196 pounds, with his only basketball experience coming from his 2012-13 run in Greece’s second-tier professional league.

It was a far cry from his pre-basketball years in Greece, where the teenage son of Nigerian immigrants helped his family earn money by selling goods on the streets—watches, sunglasses, purses, wallets—along with his older brother, Thanasis, who now plays for Panathinaikos in the EuroLeague.

So when this young Buck saw Durant on the basketball hardwoods, Giannis finally saw someone to whom he could relate.

As the boy labeled The Greek Freak discovered smoothies and grew two-and-a-half inches during that rookie campaign in 2013-14, many others began to notice a real similarity in Antetokounmpo’s game and Durant’s, and not just a hypothetical one.

With each of the forward’s five NBA seasons, the two just grew closer and closer—in mind, spirit and game.

Now 23 years old, 6-11 in height and 222 pounds in weight, they are mutual fans of each other, with Durant constantly chiming in on Antetokounmpo’s behalf, whether congratulating the young Buck on winning 2016-17 NBA Most Improved Player and predicting he’ll soon win NBA MVP via the comments section on Durant’s YouTube channel in July.

Or by telling the world that grown-man Antetokounmpo is his favorite NBA player to watch via Durant’s YouTube video October 13.

“Greek Freak is a force,” KD said in his YouTube video. “I’ve never seen 075

ROCKY WIDNER/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

anything like him. His ceiling—he could end up being the best player who ever played this game if he really wanted to. That’s pretty scary to think about. He’s by far my favorite player to watch.”

It doesn’t get any better than that.

of Jokic’s unique basketball game is brought up.

“The nicest thing that anybody ever said about me as a player was that I helped my teammates play better,” says Walton.

“Nikola Jokic, what he does, he makes basketball so easy.

So effortless.”

He truly is a one-of-a-kind offensive talent running the point center position for Denver—in the same fashion power-forward body types LeBron James or Magic Johnson quarterbacked their teams—in how he makes his Nuggets better offensively.

Whether he is running point at the top of the key and hitting Gary Harris for a backdoor layup or feathering a fast-break loft pass to Kenneth Faried, there truly is nobody like Jokic in the NBA, past or present.

As the analytics show, the Nuggets center is second (122 points-perpossessions when he is on the floor) only to Chris Paul (123) in career offensive rating among starters in NBA history.

That, along with all the other analytical evidence (see Improving By Leaps and Bounds), truly says it all.

As much as can be learned from admiring players from afar, the Nikola Jokic clan can vouch for learning through mistakes made by those closest to you.

Meet Nikola’s older brother, Nemanja Jokic, a former club teammate of Darko Milicic, before the 7-foot Serbian center became the Detroit Pistons’ No. 2 pick in the 2004 NBA Draft.

Once Milicic ensconced himself in Detroit, he invited Nemanja to live the NBA life with him in his new mansion, while the 6-6 Serbian prospect pursued his own basketball career in America, playing college basketball at local Detroit Mercy.

Long story short, both young men wasted the best years of their basketball careers in parties and B.S., leading the middle Jokic brother to vow as he returned to Serbia that he would become a better influence for his younger brother, and not let the same thing happen to young Nikola.

Of course, by then, oldest brother Strahinja, who was 6-9, was playing professionally, and youngest brother Nikola was 17 years old, also playing pro in Belgrade in 2012-13, standing 6-10, but weighing 300 pounds.

He was a lovable lad, nicknamed The Joker for his fun-loving spirit, but Nikola’s selfless basketball game still needed fine-tuning if he was going to make the jump to the NBA one day.

So, his two older brothers soon began administering tough love to young Nikola, who rapidly lost the weight and just as quick, advanced his basketball reputation in Serbia.

Nikola played in the tough Adriatic League the following 2013-14 season, Then there is Porzingis, the giant from Latvia who has the length, athleticism and put up the type of analytics that made Nuggets GM Tim Connelly and shotblocking prowess of Ralph Sampson, while also maintaining the take notice, and later, take a chance by talking Jokic into staying in the shooting touch of a Nowitzki at the same age.

2014 NBA Draft, where he used his second-round pick (41st) to land a Trained by his older brother—Janis, a European pro—at an early age, diamond in the rough.

Kristaps himself has been playing professionally since 2010 when his After a one-year draft-and-stash overseas, Nikola was NBA-ready for brother helped the 15-year-old secure a contract in Spain with Liga ACB. the 2015-16 season, where he averaged 10 points and 7 rebounds in 22 minutes per game for Denver, eventually starting 55 games at center as an NBA All-Rookie first-team performer, pushing a trade of a very good big in Jusuf (first number is from 2016-17 season; second from 2017-18 season through Nov. 5, 2017) Nurkic in order in order to make room for him.

ANTETOKOUNMPO DAVIS JOKIC PORZINGIS TOWNS “If people do not already know how good the AGE 23 24 22 22 22 Adriatic League is, soon they will,” Jokic told us at PER 26.1/32.5 27.5/30.2 26.3/23.5 17.4/28.6 25.9/25.3 the time, after he put the Adriatic League Liga ABA RPM +4.21/x +4.35/x +6.73/x +1.59/x +2.13/x on the NBA map, as other centers were making their G 80/9 75/9 73/10 66/9 82/10 in-roads, too (Pistons’ Boban Marjanovic, Cavaliers’ MPG 35.6/36.9 36.1/36.3 27.9/30.9 32.8/33.4 37.0/32.7 Ante Zizic and Lakers’ Ivica Zubac).

PPG 22.9/31.0 28.0/27.4 16.7/15.6 18.1/30.2 25.1/21.8 The rest, as they say, is history in the making.

RPG 8.8/9.9 11.8/12.7 9.8/11.5 7.2/7.8 12.3/10.9 Nikola’s older brothers now live with him in APG 5.4/5.0 2.4/2.0 4.9/4.5 1.5/1.0 2.7/1.1 Denver, but unlike the Milicic experience, they keep BPG 1.9/1.4 2.1/1.5 0.8/0.5 2.0/2.2 1.3/2.0 life more humble for Nikola—in part, from experience, SPG 1.6/1.7 1.2/1.5 0.8/1.2 0.7/0.4 0.7/0.5 but also because that is Nikola’s true nature.

TOPG 2.9/3.2 2.4/3.0 2.3/2.3 1.8/2.2 2.6/2.4 You will not find a more unselfish superstar in TSP .599/.643 .580/.633 .640/.616 .546/.590 .618/.645 the NBA today, with the Nuggets 6-10, 250-pound center sacrificing points, minutes, starting position and awards at various times—all for motives directed Key: PER Player Efficiency Rating; RPM Real Plus-Minus; G Games; MPG Minutes Per Game; PPG Points Per Game; RPG Rebounds Per Game; APG Assists Per Game; BPG Blocks Per Game; SPG Steals Per Game; TOPG Turnovers Per for the good of the team.

That is why someone as verbose—and altruistic—as Game; TSP True Shooting Percentage.

Mr. Walton is willing to wax poetic when the subject

IMPROVING BY LEAPS AND BOUNDS

076 GARRETT ELLWOOD/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

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Seven years later in America, Janis is still guiding Kristaps’ career, most notably arranging Kristaps’ early summer departure and disregarding the Knicks’ procedural exit meeting at the end of New York’s disappointing season.

The resulting shake-up of the Knicks family and its dysfunctional ways led to Jackson finally being fired after three long seasons, and Melo finally being traded, in exchange for starting center Enes Kanter and sharpshooting forward Doug McDermott.

The change in environment has been good for all, allowing head coach Jeff Hornacek to trash the triangle offense and install his own coaching system for a change, surrounding Porzingis with better role players and a more player-centered game plan that takes advantages of the 7-3 Knick’s strengths: scoring, three-point shooting, long- and mid-range shooting, getting to the line, limiting turnovers, rebounding, shotblocking and oncourt leadership.

Will Porzingis continue putting up MVP numbers as he has done in October and November of this year?

Well, if so, the power forward is a cinch to win NBA Most Improved Player award, because nobody has seen a points-per-game jump from

years his senior.

As No. 1 picks birthed from Calipari’s Kentucky basketball factory, both Towns and Davis have lived up to the hype at a level higher than even the best of prodigies do—remember every other No. 1 draft pick this decade (John Wall, Kyrie Irving, Anthony Bennett, Andrew Wiggins, Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz).

And unlike Davis, who was a defense-first, all-around center, Towns just may be more prolific offensively, although almost as versatile all-around as his fellow Wildcat.

In Davis, Calipari had the blueprint of how to groom Towns, and he indeed hit the jackpot in creating the 7-0, 248-pound Towns into a seemingly prototypical NBA superstar.

Granted, the affable Towns had a great familial upbringing, leading his high school team to the New Jersey state basketball championship, while also playing for the Dominican Republic national team, thanks to his ancestry on his mother’s side.

That said, it was KAT’s growth as a Wildcat—playing for an undefeated Kentucky team that suffered its first loss in untimely fashion, at the 2015 NCAA championship game—that principally elevated Towns’ game to an

THE COMPANY YOU KEEP

18 to 30 and a PER rise from 17.4 to 28.6 like Porzingis this season.

At the very least, it appears the Latvian is back on the career path he forged in his first NBA season, when he finished second in 2015-16 Rookie of the Year balloting, sandwiched between fellow prodigies Towns, who finished first, and Jokic, who finished third.

Last, but not least, there is Towns, who shares his own, younger-brother type relationship with fellow big and Kentucky Wildcat alum Davis, two

Each of our profiled prodigies is now surrounded by a set of teammates who can help each respective hero advance in the playoffs and get to that next level, just like the MVP cats do.

For Davis, his prayers—and New Orleans head coach Alvin Gentry’s prayers—were answered All-Star Weekend 2017 when DeMarcus Cousins was dealt to New Orleans from Sacramento, giving the Pelicans perhaps the best big-man duo in the NBA. Couple that with a pair of former All-Star point guards in Jrue Holiday and Rajon Rondo, and New Orleans indeed may be onto the start of something big.

For Antetokounmpo, his Milwaukee head coach Jason Kidd and the entire Bucks organization have spent the past five years remaking the team in Antetokounmpo’s athletic image (6-11 height with 7-3 wingspan, to be exact).

Look at the roster and you’ll see a bunch of long-armed defensive terrors that are scary Giannis clones indeed: point guard Malcolm Brogdon, 6-11 wingspan; shooting guard Tony Snell 6-11 ½ wingspan; small forward Khris Middleton, 6-11 wingspan; injured power forward Jabari Parker, 7-0 wingspan; centers Thon Maker, 7-3 wingspan, and John Henson, 7-5 wingspan.

With Jokic’s natural court vision and high perch to peer over defenses, the key for the Nuggets is surrounding him with enough shooters and scorers.

Denver is doing its best to keep its third-year center surrounded with finishers. Kenneth Faried, Wilson Chandler, Gary Harris, Jamal Murray and Will Barton

are all capable of finishing off action or spotting up, giving Jokic plenty of targets. The addition of Paul Millsap, a four-time East All-Star, helps with the heavy lifting defensively.

For Porzingis, his usage rate has skyrocketed with the departures of Jackson and Anthony, rising from 24.3 percent last season to a Leagueleading 35.5 this season, while his efficiency has gone up dramatically (up from 17.4 to 28.6 PER).

Credit the change, but also pay homage to the help on the boards (Kanter) and the improved marksmanship from the snipers (Tim Hardaway, Courtney Lee and McDermott) for giving Porzingis the freedom to roam more.

For Towns, Coach/GM Tom Thibodeau showed he was serious about surrounding KAT with talent when he acquired three-time and one-time All-Star guards Jimmy Butler and Jeff Teague to show Towns, Andrew Wiggins and all the young Timberwolves how to shine as they grow into a playoff team together.

78 NATHANIEL S. BUTLER; DAVID SHERMAN/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

Live Games. Highlights.

Scores. Schedules.

NBA, the NBA logo and team identifications are trademarks of NBA Properties, Inc. and the respective member teams. Š 2018 NBA Properties, Inc.  Photo by Getty Images.

KING’S NOTICE When one wants to send notice to the entire NBA, one does not send a group email, CC-ing all 450 of the League’s players.

No, it is much simpler and much speedier to just send the message to four-time NBA MVP LeBron James, and from there, the rest of the League will decipher the wording.

Such has been the case this year when Antetokounmpo put up a downright freakish 34 points on 22 shots, 8 rebounds and 8 assists, in albeit a 116-97 home loss to LeBron’s Cleveland Cavaliers on October 20.

Still, his play did not escape LeBron’s notice in the postgame when LeBron told ESPN’s Nick Friedell, “At the end of the day, it’s all about team success.

That’s what we all want. I’m not here to piggyback on what someone else has challenged him on. That’s for him and his teammates and the response that he had from Kobe.

But he has the skill set, he has the talent and he has a great coach who can help get him to that point.”

Antetokounmpo concurred, telling Friedell, “I’m not on that level. LeBron James is one of the best players in the League, and one of the best players to ever play the game. It’s great going against him, but I don’t think about that.”

That said, we cannot help but think about these king-versus-prince matchups.

So, on October 28, when the Pelicans hosted the Cavs in New Orleans, it was time to observe Anthony Davis and his fellow All-NBA big DeMarcus Cousins, as they unveiled the Pelicans’ new brand of big-ball, literally demolishing the Cavaliers in the process.

The 24-year-old Davis finished with 30 points on 22 shots, 14 rebounds and 3 blocks, while the 27-year-old Cousins tallied a triple-double with 29

almost mythical level on par with a once-in-adecade prospect as elite as Davis.

At Kentucky, Towns learned everything he knows from Calipari’s blueprint to NBA success, whether it was hook shots and sitting in the post, statistical and selfless sacrifice or a championship work ethic.

Towns knew Calipari would be harder on him than any of his teammates because the coach wanted Towns to have what Davis had in the NBA: a seat at the front table.

And unlike most peers, Towns has had a clear viewpoint of exactly where Davis sat, from the day AD got drafted in the NBA to Davis’ early days as a pro.

Two years into his NBA career as a Minnesota Timberwolves centerpiece, Towns is finally at the same elite level as big college bro Davis.

Sure, Davis may have more accolades and seniority on his side, but the two really are on the same level once you sit down and analyze their roles as franchise leaders set to take their organizations to newfound and consistent playoff success.

Think about it.

Both Towns and Davis are perhaps the best at their position.

Which power forward would you rather start today? Davis or Blake Griffin or LaMarcus Aldridge?

Which center? Towns or Jokic or DeMarcus Cousins?

Though they may be prints of the same picture, with the defensive dominant Davis being the reverse image of Towns’ offensive arsenal, they really are the same shot when you stop and analyze the aperture.

And now, when you stop and study Jokic and Antetokounmpo alongside Davis and Towns, you then truly begin to realize they too are just inverse and/or similar images of the Superstar Six. In Jokic, we have a point guard in a giant’s body, ala LeBron.

In Antetokounmpo, we have the 2020s future vision of what a Durantula monster would look like.

points on 20 shots, 12 rebounds, 10 assists and 3 steals in a powerful Pelicans’ 123-101 victory.

As All-Star power forward Kevin Love put it succinctly to the Associated Press, “They’re a tough team to defend.”

Then one night later, on October 29, Porzingis and the New York Knicks came to town and put another L on Cleveland, blowing the Cavs out 114-95. Porzingis poured on 32 points and 12 rebounds, while his co-stars Tim Hardaway (34 points on 19 shots) and Enes Kanter (18 points and 12 rebounds) made life downright difficult for the defensivestruggling Cavaliers.

“Guys are scoring at will against us,” LeBron summed up with the Associated Press writer.

It was the first time Porzingis ever experienced a win over LeBron’s Cavs; it will not be the last.

Thankfully for LeBron, the remaining two prodigies—Towns and Jokic, two men currently 10 years his junior—are not scheduled to face the Cavaliers until January and March, respectively.

Smart money is that both will make an impression on the ever-observant King.

In Porzingis, we have a man nicknamed the Unicorn, because we have never seen a 7-3 outside shooter who may be capable of averaging 30 points and 3 blocks in the same season.

In Davis, we have an answer to the question, "What would Kawhi look like if he was 6-10?"

And in Towns via Davis, we see how the younger brother can learn from the older brother and grow into a player just as amazing and spectacular, as Westbrook and Harden did from osmosis working with Durant in their early years together.

When you get right down to it, these Fantastic Five and Superstar Six are really one big, happy family when you get them all together.

And now, with each in their 22-to-33-year-old years together, it’s high time we enjoy them like we would a Justice League superhero movie— stuffing our face full of popcorn while we enjoy our heroes competing at the highest of elite levels together.

80 DAVID SHERMAN; DAVID LIAM KYLE/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

Photo By: Peggy Sirota

MAKE BRE AKFAST HAPPEN SO KIDS CAN BE HUNGRY FOR MORE

I was one of our nation’s hungry kids growing up. Today, 1 in 5 children in America struggle with hunger. But when they get breakfast, their days are bigger and brighter.

Learning, attention, memory and mood improve. Together, we have the power to get breakfast to kids in your neighborhood — let’s make it happen. Go to hungeris.org and lend your time or your voice.

Viola Davis, Hunger Is Ambassador

Hunger Is® is a joint initiative of the Albertsons Companies Foundation and the Entertainment Industry Foundation, which are 501(c)(3) charitable organizations.

STEP BACK

October 29, 2002 San Antonio Spurs vs. Los Angeles Lakers, at Staples Center This might be one of the largest collections of All-Defensive players in one photo. Bryant had to get past three players who between them had 31 All-Defensive Team selections. Bruce Bowen (far left) had eight selections; Tim Duncan (second from left) made the team 15 times; and David Robinson found a spot on the All-D team eight times. Not lacking in that department, Bryant also had 12 career selections on the AllDefensive squad. Total: 43.

The Spurs were the were the top seed in the West in 2002-03 with a 6022 campaign and ended the Lakers’ run at four championships in a row by defeating them in the West Semifinals, 4-2.

Bowen is one of the most successful undrafted players to ever play in the NBA. Entering the League in 1996 as an undrafted rookie out of Cal-State Fullerton, Bowen bounced around the League, playing for Miami, Boston and Philadelphia before finding his niche with San Antonio.

Most would associate Duncan’s chief rivals during his 19-year career as Shaquille O’Neal, Kevin Garnett and Dirk Nowitzki, but he clashed against Bryant’s teams in the playoffs seven times, with Bryant besting him four times.

Duncan and Bryant are tied with five titles apiece, making them the two most successful NBA players in last 20 years. Since 1999, either Duncan or Bryant has taken home the Larry O’Brien Trophy in 10 of the 19 Finals.

Bowen is the blueprint for today’s modern 3&D player, a swingman who specializes in perimeter defense and spotting up for three-pointers. Bowen’s eight All-Defensive selections speak for themselves, and he shot 39 percent from outside the arc for his career.

Bowen has had many clashes with Bryant over their overlapping careers, as he was always tasked with checking Bryant. Bryant told TNT’s Ernie Johnson that Tony Allen guarded him the toughest, but credits Bowen as a tough defender.

Duncan is one of just five players to notch 25,000 points and 15,000 rebounds, joining luminaries Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Moses Malone and Elvin Hayes.

After eight seasons in San Antonio, where he helped the team raise three championships banners, Bowen retired following the 2008-09 season. On March 21, 2012, the Spurs organization retired Bowen’s #12.

Three years later in 2015, when the Spurs acquired LaMarcus Aldridge, Bowen offered to “unretire” his #12 so Aldridge could wear the number.

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After his homeland of the U.S. Virgin Islands were battered by hurricanes this year, Duncan initiated a relief effort for the island nation, raising more than $2 million dollars in recovery aid.

Kobe Bryant topped 30 PPG for the first time in his career that season, putting up an even 30 to go with 6.9 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game.

Bryant had his best three-point shooting season in his 20-year career, making them at a .383 clip.

Bryant finished third in MVP voting in 2002-03, behind MVP Duncan and runner-up Kevin Garnett.

Before the 2002-03 season, Bryant had just gotten out of his sneaker endorsement with adidas, but it stipulated that he couldn’t sign with another brand until the following season, making that season an interesting one for sneaker fanatics. As a sneaker “free agent” for the season, Bryant took full advantage of the freedom, wearing sneakers from Jordan, Nike, Reebok, Converse and even And1, as the shoe companies courted him with player exclusive colorways. He would subsequently ink a deal with Nike in the offseason, a partnership that still exists to this day.

Nicknamed the “Admiral” because of his time in the Navy, where he played basketball and averaged 21 PPG and 10.3 RPG while blocking 516 shots, Robinson was the No. 1 pick in the 1987 NBA Draft.

On the last day of the 1993-94 season, April 24, 1994, Robinson torched the Los Angeles Clippers for 71 points to beat Shaquille O’Neal for the scoring title by just .441 points.

Robinson’s NBA debut was supposed to have been deferred until the 1992-93 season because of his five-year post-graduation obligation to the United States Navy, but because of his unique height (Robinson stood 7-1 and the height barrier to serve was 6-6), Robinson was granted an abbreviated tour of two years ashore, making way for his pro debut in the 1989-90 season.

Robinson is just one of 18 players to crack the 20,000 points and 10,000 rebounds club.

ANDREW D. BERNSTEIN/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

Robinson and Michael Jordan are the only two players to have ever won Rookie of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and MVP over their careers.

083

ONE STORE,

EVERY TEAM

HOOP HOLIDAY

GIFT GUIDE

We scoured long and far to find the best ideas to surprise someone—yourself included—with during the holiday season.

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CHECK IT

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1. adidas UltraBoost ATR

Our favorite cushioned shoe gets a much needed coat of armor to weather the beaten path and the winter. The ATR effect on the UltraBoost is a layer of water-repellent (it will sustain a sprinkle-laden run but not downpours) over the Primeknit. The pillowy footstrikes from the Boost remain while the Continental Rubber outsole grips, even in wet conditions.

$220

2. Herschel Apex Lawson

Knit construction has been commonplace in the sneaker world, but Herschel has taken the same principle—high tensile yarns woven to form a strong structure with potential for interesting designs stemming from the weaving process—and applied it to what it does best: backpacks and assorted carry-alls. Using one of its more popular silhouettes, the Lawson, the backpack is constructed with 27,874 meters of yarn in a span of 7,320 seconds (we did the math for you: a shade over two hours). We know this because it’s printed on the interior of the bag, which features a neoprene laptop pocket and assorted compartments to organize all your daily sundries.

$179.99

3. DeWalt 20V MAX XR Angle Grinder

There comes a time in everyone’s life where something needs to be cut off. Be prepared for that moment with the MAX XR Angle Grinder, to will make swift work of any pipe, rebar or stray shard of metal.

The four and a half inch cutting blade and 20V cordless grinder can even make cuts to masonry and tile (provided you have the right cutting wheel) and is equipped with a kickback break that quickly stops the motor when it detects any pinching, binding or stalling while on.

$139

Samsung proved it can take a punch with the Note 8. After the Note 7 was pulled off the market due to defective batteries, Samsung reclaims the throne as the best large size phone for productivity with the 8. Those who think a stylus is extraneous for a phone probably haven’t experienced a Note phone. A fixture since the Note’s debut, the S Pen gives more precision for work tasks—editing documents and spreadsheets, and note-taking—but also amps up the fun—creating GIFs, adding captions and playing games. The other distinguishing feature is the Note 8’s dual-lens camera that ups your bokeh game a level or two. The Note 8 shares similar DNA with its little brother, the Galaxy S8, namely the top-in-class processor, wireless charging, water resistance, expandable microSD memory and the stunning OLED display.

While the Note 8’s form factor isn’t as svelte as the S8, its larger screen (6.3 inches), productivity and upgraded camera make it our top pick in the Android arena.

$930

4. Microsoft Xbox One X

When Microsoft first launched the original Xbox in 2001, it took the first baby step in bringing the PC gaming experience to a console. With each iteration, it got closer, and now with the Xbox One X (and more cross-platform playability between PC and Xbox gamers via Xbox Live), the lines are more blurred. While not a completely new system, the One X is a One S (itself a minor update to the Xbox One) with a major power boost. It is powered by an eight-core AMD CPU (2.53 GHz), a 31 percent jump from its predecessor, but more important is the 40-core graphics processor that breaks the uncharted-for-a-console GHz territory at 1.172 GHz (the One S has a 12-core equivalent at 914 MHz) and double the RAM to bring life to games. Supporting the HDR10 standrard, the One X will render compatible games at 4K, and like the One S, play 4K media through UHD Blu-ray media or streaming services such as Amazon or Netflix. It will improve on games and media even if you don’t have a 4K display, but one is recommended if you want to fully experience the Xbox One X’s capabilities. While it still falls short of a tricked-out gaming PC expereince, the Xbox One X is a simple out-of-the-box solution that gets you closer than ever.

$499

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6. adidas SST Heavy Down Jacket/ Allover Print Jacket

There’s nothing more basic than the essential down jacket for the wintertime. Adidas offers up two options that will keep you warm until spring. The SST Heavy Down Jacket is a winterized version of the classic SST track suit by the Three Stripes, except with a down insulation and water-repellent finish and fleece-lined pockets. The Allover Print Jacket features a bold look that will keep you toasty with its Microrollo insulation, detachable hood and elastic cuffs.

SST heavy Down Jacket: $200 Allover Print Jacket: $230

7. Apple iPad

It hasn’t reached the hype of its big sister, the iPhone, but the iPad is nearing its 10-year birthday and just continues as the best tablet experience. There’s few groundbreaking features to report—the A9 chip (from an A8X) gives it a nice boost, especially on fast twitchy games—but its biggest selling point is that it’s a reliable tablet that revolves around Apple’s rich app store (at last count, over 1.3 million apps).

The other noteworthy highlight is the iPad’s retina display that packs more pixels per square inch into its 2,048 x 1,536 resolution screen. On top of that, Apple has made getting one cheaper. The starting price of this 32GB Wi-Fi iPad is $329, a nice $70 drop (who says things don’t get cheaper?) from the previous iPad Air 2, making it one of the best deals for a snappy, best-in-class tablet.

9. Fitbit Ionic

The Ionic is much more than your average fitness tracker and it’s not quite a full-fledged smartwatch, but the end result is a very attractive fitness-centric watch that excels in all the things Fitbit is known for: tracking activity, measuring heart rate and giving you reminders to move in order to reach your fitness goals. What makes the Ionic groundbreaking in the Fitbit realm, is the addition of a Fitbit OS that gives the watch its own library of supported apps to give it more depth. At the time of testing, it was only outfitted with just a few, but Fitbit has promised more down the road. The Wallet app lets you link it with a credit card for tap-and-pay functionality (via NFC); the Starbucks app runs much like its iPhone or Android counterpart, a QR code to purchase that post-run caffeine fix; and there’s Pandora for music streaming (the Ionic also has a music app to play the 2.5GB worth of music that can be loaded into it). Also new to the Ionic, is the built-in GPS to help track your runs and bike rides. You can receive notifications from your phone to the Ionic, but it’s read-only as you can’t respond to them. So while it lacks against a dedicated smartwatch, the Ionic does shine when it comes to fitness, besting anything else on the market in that area. That along with its long battery life—we get almost six days on a single charge—make it a recommend if fitness is your priority.

Taking its tagline of “Born in Springfield, Raised in New York,” this Foot Locker-exclusive collection is born from Justin Leonard’s connections to the game that—although has its roots in Massachusetts—has branched out its reach in New York. The apparel collection features tees with iconic imagery from New York City (including legendary streetballer and DJ Bobbito Garcia), and bold color-blocked jerseys, shorts and socks.

Deep Roots Jersey: $69.99 Bobbito Garcia Harlem T-Shirt: $29.99 New York Raised T-Shirt: $29.99 Deep Roots Crew Socks: $11.99

$299

$559 (128GB LTE)

8. LEGO NASA Apollo Saturn V

10. Raised Collection

The actual Saturn V that led to Neil Armstrong’s historic moonwalk was one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind. The LEGO-ized version of the Saturn V won’t be as momentous, but it will take almost 2,000 pieces to put together. The finished product is taller than your average toddler at almost 40 inches (note: Don’t let toddlers get their hands on it) and a very impressive LEGO replica of the actual thing. It’s always impressive how LEGO designers can pack so much detail into the humble system of bricks, but they capture fully (in 1:110 scale) the Saturn V. From the various stages of the rocket, the engine details, and the Apollo spacecraft that landed on the moon, to the tinier than tiny astronaut figures, any space enthusiast will appreciate this.

11. DJI Spark

Known for high-end drones, DJI offers a similar array of features in a decidedly small but powerful package in the Spark. About the size of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s hand (probably smaller) the Spark is easy to get up and running. You can rely on the onboard sensors to control the drone via hand gestures—a goodbye wave sends Spark soaring, two L-shapes with your hand (like a director framing a shot) and a photo is snapped, a Y-shape with your arms and body will direct it to land—and if you pair it with your phone via the DJI app, you’re afforded a host of other control options, a live view of the drone through your phone and extended range.

The optional remote controller ($149) will further extend your range and give you more precise controls via the analog sticks. The two-axis gimbal-stabilized camera can shoot 12MP stills and 1080p video. The Spark might be an entry level drone, but it packs a lot of fun, making it perfect for those getting into the hobby or content creators looking for the addition of aerial footage.

$499

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1. adidas Crazy 8 ADV Primeknit

The Crazy 8 (formerly the KB8, the 1997 signature shoe of Kobe Bryant when he was with the brand) gets a modern makeover in the form of Primeknit construction. Gone are the internal straps that lock the foot into the ’90s-era (formerly Feet you Wear) midsole/ outsole setup that was supposed to mimic the natural foot and reduce any ankle rolls, but the shoe is every bit as relevant now as it was 20 years ago.

$140

2. Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer

This is a case where seeing isn’t believing, but feeling is the truth. The Ghost Whisperer needs to be in-hand and on-body so the sheer weightlessness of it is fully realized.

Coming in a scant under eight ounces, the Ghost Whisperer is pound-for-pound—um, ounce-for-ounce—one of the warmest jackets you will find. Filled with Q.Shield (down fibers infused with permanent water repellency) 800-fill down, the Ghost Whisperer provides a layer of barelynoticeable insulation that is perfect for a brisk day, light rain or snow be damned, or easily layered underneath for subfreezing temperatures.

$350

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3. HP Spectre 13

There’s not more room for the ultrabooks sector to keep shrinking, but HP has managed to push the envelope in terms of size and how much more it can pack into a device that measures just 12.13 x 8.86 inches, with a thickness of just 0.41. Coming in at just under 2.5 pounds, HP managed to pack an eighth-gen Intel Core i7-8550U CPU that runs at 1.8 GHz, 8 GB of RAM, Intel UHD Graphics 620, a 256GB SSD and a 13.3inch touchscreen (1,920 x 1080) display. There’s options to upgrade the internals, as well as a 4K display (though at such a small screen, we wouldn’t recommend it). While the power the Spectre 13 boasts is impressive, we were more enamored by the looks. HP has been putting more emphasis on its product design as of late and the Spectre 13 is proof of that.

The entire shell is a matte white ceramic finish and trimmed with gold, giving the laptop a look that screams luxury. Not stopping there, HP also partnered with high-end audio maker Bang & Olufsen to provide the speakers, which pumps out beefy-for-its-size sound. The trackpad is responsive enough and the low-profile keyboard is tactile enough for some light typing. At this size, you can’t expect long hours of battery life, but we managed to get a day’s use (by that, we mean a solid 10 hours) from it. Ports are scarce, which can be a good or bad thing. Good since it gives it a clean look and makes the Spectre a more beautiful object than computer. Bad because with just three USB-C ports (one is for charging), you’ll need to deal with #donglelife if you require peripherals in your daily computing. HP proves with the Spectre 13 that beauty and brawn can coexist.

$1,399.99

4. McFarlane NBA Series 31 & Kobe Bryant Championship Series Figures

Todd McFarlane has been sculpting NBA figures for a minute now, 31 cycles to be exact. Like the game itself, they’ve steadily been evolving and improving with each year. Facial features, muscle definition and fine details like tattoos are painstakingly mapped onto a dynamic action pose that reflects the player.

Series 31 includes LeBron James, James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, Draymond Green, John Wall and Andre Drummond.

Kobe Bryant has been the greatest winner this century, totaling enough rings to fill a hand. McFarlane celebrates this generation’s greatest champion by dropping a commemorative figure for each title. Beginning with his first taste of the chip in 2000, the subsequent two titles in ’01 and ’02 for the threepeat and then the transition from #8 to #24, where he took the throne again in ’09 and culminating with his final time hoisting the Larry O’Brien Trophy in 2010.

Series 31: $17.99 Kobe Bryant Championship Series: $34.99

5. Mychanic Sidekick Stool

Every aspiring grease monkey needs a helper around the garage. The Sidekick Stool can’t help you loosen that tight nut, but it can stow away your most used tools and offer you a seat when you need to call the mechanic for professional help. The cushioned seat sits atop an all-steel tool bin with two pull-out drawers and heavy-duty casters. The sides drop down and offer up a magnetic tray to corral all your nuts, screws and bolts and a slotted tool tray in the back gives you a convenient resting place for tools.

$99.99

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6. Epson LS100 Short-Throw Laser Projector

The entry price of a large-screen TV is lower than it’s ever been, but it’s still relatively steep to have that 70-inches-and-up picture. Projectors have always offered good picture size to cost, but for many, the installation and low ambient light conditions for optimal viewing gave pause. The LS100 addresses both caveats as it is a short throw 3LCD projector that can be placed as little as 16 inches in front of a wall or screen to produce a bright (4,000 lumens) 120-inch 1080p picture with deep blacks (2,500,000:1 contrast ratio) that can be viewed in broad daylight. Inch for inch, no flat panel TV can match that type of output at the sub-$3,000 price point. You can project it onto a bare wall, but optimal quality would be had with the most basic of screens. The LS100’s HDMI inputs sit in the rear, making for easy connection of your components while keeping things neat. The one complaint we had was the lack of inputs (3 HDMI ports, and two legacy ports: a composite video and VGA), which would necessitate a HDMI hub to accomodate a main TV setup that Epson envisions the LS100 to be.

8. adidas Dame 4

For whatever reason, Damian Lillard gets overlooked. As a player, he doesn’t get his just due as one the game’s best point guards. As a rapper, his flow and lyrics always get the caveat of “...good for an NBA player.” And his signature joints don’t get the same hype that other shoes get. Which is all fine with Dame. The underdog status is what he thrives on, and it’s only fueled the Oakland native. The fourth iteration of the series sees a textile upper that breathes as well as sheds weight. The Bounce cushioning isn’t as quite as plush as Boost, but for basketball, it might be preferred by some since it offers more court feel and less “mushiness” on landings.

We dig the lacing system that anchors the shoe into your foot, the neoprene collar on the shoe’s bootie construction and the wavy outsole pattern that represents the flow of time.

$115

$2,999

7. Philips Norelco OneBlade

The OneBlade is nowhere near the most powerful shaver. The shave it offers isn’t the closest. It is barren of any tech or bells and whistles. In spite of all this, the OneBlade will be the most used device in your grooming arsenal. As mentioned, it doesn’t stand out in any area, but it does a good job in all your daily trimming, shaving and edging needs in a simple design that is a hybrid between a cartridge razor and an electric shaver. The replaceable heads feature a shaving foil that provides a clean shave whether you go with or against the grain, and is surrounded by cutting teeth blades that make easy work of all your detailing. Baldies can even run it over their heads, but keep in mind it wont give you that skin smooth finish that a razor can. The blade heads are rated for four months of use and are relatively affordable to replace ($15 each or two for $25). The OneBlade is by design low-tech, save for the internal lithium-ion battery that will get you 30-40 minutes of usage before requiring a short charge to jolt it back to life. Its versatility and simplicity is what will have you reaching back to it for your daily grooming needs.

9. HyperX Cloud Alpha

For a price that won’t break the bank, the Cloud Alpha is a great gaming headset. If you’re still on the stock console headset, this is the right move. The molded cups fit over the ear comfortably, even during long sessions. Directional audio is excellent for shooters where tracking enemies and targets are crucial, and even small and subtle sounds from games were audible. The flexible gooseneck microphone captures your voice clearly and can be removed during solo games. The design of the Cloud Alpha is understated as gaming headsets go. The black and red aluminum isn’t flashy but should also prove to be durable. For what it’s worth, it’s the gaming headset of choice for brand ambassadors Gordon Hayward and De’Aaron Fox.

10. E.T. 35th Anniversary 4K Blu-ray Edition

In case you’re curious or not of a certain age, E.T. stands for Extra-Terrestrial, Steven Spielberg’s first acronymed science-fiction movie (A.I., being the other) that birthed the phrase “E.T. phone home,” launched Drew Barrymore’s career and put Reese’s Pieces on the candy map (M&M’s were the original candy of choice, but they had declined). In celebration of the movie’s 35th anniversary (another fact: E.T. was the highest grossing movie of all time for 11 years before Spielberg outdid himself with Jurassic Park), the beloved alien adventure gets a glorious 4K treatment along with over three hours of bonus content (interviews, deleted scenes and featurettes) and a collector’s booklet filled with stories and photos from the archives.

$24.96

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Homecourt Advantag Our picks of things for the smart and connected abode.

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1. Logitech Circle 2

The beauty of the Circle 2 lies in the simplicity of its setup. After downloading the app onto your phone, you simply take the camera out, plug it in, find it on your Wi-Fi and within minutes (took us five) you’ll have home security. Available as a plug-in or battery-powered wireless one (we tested the wired version; the wireless option has a purported three-month runtime on a charge), the Circle 2 offers up 180-degree field of vision 1080p video in a compact weatherproof orb for easy mounting indoors or out. Night vision means you can catch intruders like prowlers and raccoons and the two-way talk and listen feature allows you to scare them away. Circle 2 comes with free cloud storage of 24 hours; upgrading to a basic plan ups it to 14 days while a premium plan is 31 days and unlocks the ability to set up motion zones and face detection. The Circle 2 can be linked up with Amazon’s Alexa and is compatible with Apple’s HomeKit. Optional modular accessories like a window mount, extension kits, extra rechargeable batteries and plug mount (the latter two for the wireless camera) expand mounting possibilities.

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2. Nixplay Edge 13

Digital photo frames might seem passe but Edge 13 revitalizes the concept by making the previous chore of manually pulling photos from various sources into a memory card and having to repeat the process every time you want to add a photo.

Nixplay operates—like any proper connected device—via an app. From there you can seamlessly send your photos and videos from your phone to the Wi-Fi-connected photo frame. The vivid 13-inch, high definition (1920 x 1080) display serves as the canvas for your memories. As a gift, the Edge 13 shines as you can maintain a link to the frame and share photos remotely (the recipient will get an alert on the frame that new photos have arrived).

$249.99

4. Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart Sonic

It’s hard to improve on Sonicare’s top-rated electric toothbrush, but Philips did just that. Its sonic-based brush remains largely the same—it gently vibrates off any manner of grime that eventually leads to plaque and other oral ailments, and a timer prompts you to change brushing zones—but they added a few extra modes for more fine-tuned cleaning and a light turns on to remind you when you’re pressing the brush too hard against your teeth. If you’re the kind of person that wants to optimize your oral hygiene, a companion app provides real-time feedback and coaching to perfect your brushing. The slickest improvement is the charging dock. Gone is the clinical and staid induction charging, replaced by an elegant charging base that integrates perfectly with the glass cup that doubles up as a rinse cup. The DiamondClean rests inside the divot in the cup and charges, almost magically. The cup is easily rinsed and cleaned, doing away with the grime that would build up in previous versions. The charging setup is so good that users might never encounter the DiamondClean’s low-battery indicator indicator warning you that a only a week’s worth of brushing power is remaining. The thoughtful travel case that comes with it also doubles up as a charge dock. Drop the DiamondClean into it (it also holds two brush heads) and connect the micro-USB for on-the-go brushing.

$269.99

3. Linksys Velop Whole Home Mesh Wi-Fi System

If you live in an abode that spans a few levels or even if you have unexplainable dead spots where you can never get a clear Wi-Fi signal, the Velop will blanket your home, ensuring you get maximum bars on all your connected devices. It works by expandable nodes that communicate with one another, forming a daisy chain of wireless coverage. Each of the nodes is a tri-band (2.4 GHz and two 5 GHz) 802.11ac router capable of covering 2,000 square feet. Together they form one synchronous network, and the Velop system will always connect your device to the optimal node in the background, so you can walk around your home and always get peak Wi-Fi. We tested the three-node system, placing one on each floor. The setup, like all connected devices, requires a companion app, and takes but a few clicks for the initial setup. Once up, the Velop nodes rely on a single not-too-bright LED status light to indicate your network’s health and all other options can be configured via the app. The nodes themselves (the Velop can be expanded up to six nodes) blend right into most decors and feature two gigabit Ethernet ports on the underside for wired devices.

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5. Philips Hue Kit

When the first light switch was flipped, we bet the inventor thought that it could never get any simpler to get instant light. With Philips’ Hue Connected Bulb, the switch is removed from the equation altogether if you so choose, replaced by an app on your phone that affords you options beyond on/off. A gamut of colors is available at your literal fingertips on the Hue app’s color wheel to set the mood, the lights can be programmed to your whim, controlled remotely, geo-fenced (lights turning on at your mere presence and off when you leave), preset to moods (dinner lighting, movie lighting) or even synced to music. Thanks to IFTTT support, Hue lights can also be integrated with Alexa, tied to your social media feeds (a blink when you’re retweeted, for example), the weather (blue reminding you to pack an umbrella) or even sports team (pulsing orange signaling that the Knicks won). The kit comes with three color-changing smart LED bulbs and a bridge that connects it with your home network.

$199

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8. iDevices Smart Home Essentials Kit

Retrofitting an existing and capable home setup to one that is smart and connected is simplified with the kit from iDevices.

With an array of smart plugs and light sockets—five indoor plugs, two outdoor plugs and five light socket adapters, to be exact—it provides all you need to add brains to your lights and pluggable devices around the house. You won’t be able to control them beyond turning them on and off, but it does make them accessible via a digital assistant (Amazon Echo and Apple Homekit are supported) and in the case of the light sockets dimmable, with a simple voice command. Setup is seamless. Each plug or socket takes a one-time three-minute setup process that pairs it with the companion app. Once paired with your Wi-Fi network, you can call on Alexa or Siri to turn on the light or plugged-in appliance. The iDevices plugs and sockets can also be scheduled via the app and a handy tracker can generate energy consumption reports from each plug or socket.

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9. Amazon Echo Show

6. Wemo Wi-Fi Smart Dimmer

We’ve co-signed on Wemo’s line of smart switches and plugs, and we’re doing the same for the dimming version. It can add brains to your existing dimmable lights or add dimming to a light socket (the bulb needs to be dimmable). Alexa support gives you voice-commanded lights on the switch (“Alexa, dim the light to 50 percent”) that never loses its novelty. If you’ve ever installed any light switch before, the installation will be as straightforward (be aware: older junction boxes, which are smaller, might be a tight fit).

$79.99

7. iRobot Roomba 980

We’re not quite to the point where Rosie from the Jetsons is reality, but the Roomba 980 can probably keep your floors dust-free as well as any robotic maid. The Roomba 980 remains relatively true to its original design from 2002, but it’s been getting better at handling the dirty work, namely sucking up dirt off different surfaces while adding more brain and connectivity with each edition. The 980 is equipped with eyes in a camera and sensors to traverse your home and navigate pitfalls like stairs and your dirty socks. The beefed up motor and improved brushes do as good a job as manual vacuuming, especially those rogue potato chip crumbs and Cheerios that are a staple on every floor. The app lets you program the 980–you can also give it a name (we dubbed ours Joel Embiid) in the app—with its own cleaning schedule, get cleaning reports and notifications on the rare occasion it gets stuck on an obstacle. Rare—because the 980 is an offroad beast. It adjusts from solid floor surfaces to carpeting and rugs (it even boosts up the suction power when it detects rugs) and its low profile means it can clear under most cabinet kickboards. The Roomba 980 cannot respond to voice commands, but it can easily be paired with Amazon’s Echo lineup to get Alexa to get it to start cleaning up after you.

Amazon’s ever-popular digital assistant gets a face with the Show. Every bit like her anonymous counterpart, the Show has a 7-inch screen and beefed up internals in the form of an Intel Atom chip that will be the centerpiece of any smart and connected home. Voice commands activate Alexa per usual, but she can also display the answers and information, giving her more showmanship.

The display is also a touchscreen, but in our opinion, that feature is superfluous as we are accustomed to just interacting with Alexa with just voice.

The Show can give you a video rundown every morning, play YouTube videos, serve as a photo frame and display any video cameras you have installed on its screen. Sonically, the Show’s beefy-for-its-size Dolby speakers that reside under the screen do an admirable job of pumping out audio. It’s not room-filling, but from a range of 12 feet, it holds its own, and a slight improvement from the Echo. However, when speaking to the Show, the five-microphone array does an excellent job of listening (almost too good) to your voice. Even shouting from the floor above, you can get Alexa at your beck and call. Speaking of calls, the Show can handle video calls, making it a communication hub for a growing network of Echo users. You just need to sign into the app with your phone number and Amazon will link you up with registered Echo users in your contact list. Overall, the Show is an eye-opening improvement of an already useful and stellar digital assistant. The screen opens up a lot of potential, but we wished the design was more sleek, instead of the boxy angular look (it resembles a mini rear projection TV), it would’ve been nice to see a thinner profile and smaller bezel.

$229

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1. Focal Listen Wireless

With more phones going the audio jackless route, the move to Bluetooth headphones is necessary if you want to avoid the dreaded dongle. Made by Focal, a premium French audio company with roots in high-end audio components, the Listen Wireless is (relative to its portfolio of products) an entry model to wireless audio. Supporting Bluetooth 4.1, the Listen gets terrific range, more than enough for the pocket to head distance that it is intended for, but if you want to meander around your house in them, they can maintain a 30 foot connection as long as it remains line of sight. This strong connection means when walking in any interferenceladen metro area, the Listen stays locked in with minimal breakup (we tested it on the busy midtown streets of New York City). Sound quality is excellent, highs and lows were prominent with good separation between instrumentals and vocals. Bass is not too deep, which is more compliment than deduction (cheaper headphones tend to bump up the bass to hide the audio flaws).

This was all based on wireless operation. The Listen shines even brighter when you plug in the optional 3.5 mm audio cable (which will require an embrace of #donglelife if your device lacks an audio jack). You can expect about 18-20 hours of wireless use per charge, which passes our standard of charge-once-a-week for wireless peripherals.

$299

2. New Era X NBA Caps

When New Era became the official headwear partner of the NBA a year ago, it opened up a ton of haberdashery options for the NBA fan. There are too many styles and fits to list, but you can never go wrong with a classic 59Fifty Fitted or the versatile 9Fifty Snapbacks that the brand is known for, or a “dad-fit” that seem to be in favor these days.

$20-98

3. Active Dreamers NBA Pillow Heads

The late Stuart Scott didn’t coin “cooler than the other side of the pillow,” but he was the first to bring it into sports vernacular. These NBA Pillow Heads feature players that Stu would’ve given that designation. On one side is the illustrated head of your favorite player and the flipside has his jersey number. Which side is cooler? Your call.

$24.99

5. WS Game Company Monopoly Luxury Edition

There has probably been no other board game in history that has ended in a player flipping the board in anger over going bankrupt at Illinois Ave. (Monopoly fact: It’s the most landed-on space on the board.) This luxury edition of the timeless game will give pause to any Monopoly tantrum. It features all the requisite luxe touches—a furniture-quality wooden set wrapped in leather and gold trimming, and printing with a recessed center so the dice don’t knock over the silver and gold houses and hotels—that will make everyone feel like a tycoon, whether they are holding Mediterranean Ave. or Boardwalk. The title deed cards are neatly organzied in a leather-bound portfolio and all the money and the game pieces—did we mention all the classic game tokens (racecar, dog, et al) are all gold?—are stashed in the two pullout side drawers.

$249

4. Nike x NBA Connected Jersey

The NBA jersey has always been more than just a piece of sporting equipment. The NBA jersey is very personal, like a second skin to the athletes, one that bears their name and number. Donning one is as much a sign to the world which player you’re riding with as the team you’re supporting.

With Nike outfitting the NBA beginning this season, it has amplified the personal connection of the NBA jersey by teching them out with an NFC tag embedded into the jersey that can, through the NikeConnect app, unlock exclusive highlights and experiences from your favorite players, special Nike offers, NBA 2K18 MyPlayer boosts and music playlists. The NikeConnect technology is available on both the Authentic (same as what the players wear on court) and the Swingman (replica jersey) editions.

Authentic jersey: $200 Swingman jersey: $110

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6. ISlide NBA Slides

The venerable slide used to be seasonal footwear but ISlides have turned them into a canvas for toe-bearing personal expression.

Known more for their customized slides, the company also offers slides in every NBA flavor, including alternate colorways.

$49.99

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9. Mophie Powerstation USB-C XXL

7. adidas AlphaBounce 5.8 Zip

Winter elements are tough on footwear. Slick icy walkways, slush and snow, and the ensuing melted mix of ice, mud and salt will wreak havoc on your shoe game. The AlphaBounce 5.8 Zip combats the winter grind with a deep-treaded outsole that features Continental Rubber to bite into the ground, a zip-up neoprene collar to cinch your feet from the snow, and a winterized ForgedMesh upper to shed moisture.

$120

8. Fuego Box Spicy Box of Awesome

Add a little heat to your holiday season with the Fuego Box, a hot sauce subscription service focused on bringing hot sauces on the come-up to the masses. Once you’ve been hooked to the magical allure of Fuego Box, like a gullible baby fish to some sparkly bait, the end result is much the same: Eventually you’ll be left flailing on terra firma, praying for the unholy pain to subside while simultaneously, in full Orwellian doublethink, craving more burn as you yearn for water—or milk—so the flame is doused and the eating can continue. However, don’t fret if you’re not a chilihead and your mouth is still a virgin to the bhut jolokia, because taste before fire is Fuego Box’s No. 1 priority. In addition to monthly and quarterly subscription options that can net you three bottles per shipment, we recommend the Spicy Box of Awesome Hot Sauce Gift Set that comes in a limited edition Fuego Box wooden crate featuring six unique products that Fuego Box is constantly changing up. We liked the Bee Local Hot Honey, Hoff Sauce, World’s 1st Dry Hot Sauce by Vesta and Nando’s Peri-Peri Garlic. The selection will vary, but expect a variety of spiciness, flavor, aroma, style, form and consistency in this set. From the Fuego Box store, we also recommend the versatile Zana Sauce and, for some funky heat, Frankie V’s Spooky White.

A good portable power bank is a necessity while traveling. The Powerstation USB-C XXL extends life of your digital devices, including USB-C powered laptop (looking right at you, Apple MacBook). The 19,500mAh battery on the Powerstation promises an additional 14 hours on a laptop, 66 hours on a smartphone and 27 hours on your average tablet (but of course it depends on varying factors like the size/brand of the laptop and usage of device). It sports an LED power indicator and two ports, a standard USB-A and USB-C port, both capable of quick charge if your device supports it and has Priority+, which means it will intelligently pass-through charge to the connected device first when you have the Powerstation plugged into an outlet. The Powerstation isn’t quite pocketable at 13.76 ounces, but it does come wrapped in a fabric mesh that lends a touch of luxe in a typically utilitarian device.

$149.95

10. Basketball (And Other Things): A Collection of Questions Asked, Answered, Illustrated

In Shea Serrano’s previous tome, The Rap Year Book, the author lends his unique and humorous point of view to the world of hip hop. He follows it up with the same treatment of one of his other loves: the NBA. Only from his mind can you get answers to such deep basketball ponderings such as “If 1997 Karl Malone and a Bear Swapped Places for a Season, Who Would Be More Successful?” and “Which NBA Player’s Group Are You Joining If the Purge Begins Tonight?”

Not all is irreverent as conventional topics like best NBA duo and greatest dunker are explored. All of the musings—the book spans 240 pages and is comprised of 33 chapters—is playfully illustrated by Arturo Torres and serves as a reminder that although basketball fans may get all riled debating GOAT status and greatest teams, the NBA, at its core, is just plain fun.

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BY ALEX BRACETTI #44

SPIN MOVES

MIKE CONLEY

Fans call him underrated. Media folk consider him underappreciated. Either way, Mike Conley has shown signs of greatness as the Grizzlies’ primary ballhandler, while staying loyal to the franchise that drafted him 10 years ago. He’s been one of the few point guards to improve statistically every year, and despite the pressure of signing what was once the biggest contract in NBA history, he put up career-highs across the board and came off his best season ever. Conley put up 20.5 PPG on 46 percent shooting and 41 percent three-point shooting, to go with 6.3 APG, 1.3 SPG while playing one of the steadiest point guards in the League; consider it money well spent.

On his own time, Conley is just as diverse with how he spends it, dabbling in myriad of things.

GAMING

I’m a huge gamer on my downtime. I’ve always been a Call of Duty fan, played every single game. [The] thing that I love is it’s a game you can pick up, play online, get a team together, and things just happen quick. The competitive nature of it keeps me coming back. Every single game seems to have new improvements and futuristic things going on with it. I’m always excited with the newest ones. Heard nothing but good things about WW2, so can’t wait to try it out.

MUSIC

Lately, I’ve been listening to a lot of Kanye West. That goes from The Life of Pablo all the way back to The College Dropout—even before that when he was making mixtapes. I like a lot of Big Sean—love his albums. Kendrick Lamar, his latest albums are always good and in rotation. Jay’s 4:44 is in there as well.

FATHERHOOD

We had a kid, he’s about 1 now. I think he’s already picking up all my habits. It’s been a blessing to bring life into this world, to have a son who you know is going to look up to you and everything you do, just being part of his life, being there for him and my wife. It’s not that easy, it’s a lot of work, but there’s so much love and energy there that you don’t see it as hard at all.

HOBBIES

Golf is a great sport because it’s a challenge, the ultimate one in the sense that you can’t master it. You can be good one day and hit the ball everywhere the next day. You constantly ask how you can beat yourself from yesterday and strive for that as a competitor every time you jump on the course.

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TRAVEL

Last year, we were in OKC and went to the site where the Oklahoma City bombing occurred. We went and visited the National Memorial they had there, which was super cool—[it was] very powerful to see and hear all the stories and how everything went down.

ILLUSTRATION: MATT CANDELA;

TV

As far as watching, I’m a big American Horror Story fan. I like that series a lot and look forward to catching up on it; me and my wife watch it together. Big on Game of Thrones and just finished watching Narcos, too.

STYLE

I do a little shopping for myself. I’m kinda stuck in between clean-cut, straightforward looks and take that step into being a hypebeast—wearing clothes with a little more pop and swag to them.

I think I dress more for the occasion I’m in and try to sprinkle in bits and pieces of each.

But most of it is stuff I let my stylist, Brandon Williams, choose.

FOOTWEAR

As far as on the court, I’m signed with Jordan, so I rock’em no matter what! But as far as designer sneakers, Saint Laurent has a lot of great shoes that I definitely love. All their collections. Gucci also got some new ones that I really liked and copped this summer.

GROOMING

Ever since I started growing my hair out I’ve tried different things.

Lately, I haven’t used much of anything because it’s starting to lock up.

Got mini-dreadlocks going on, so at a limbo stage, but I like where it’s at. Every day I just keep it washed and conditioned, making sure it’s strong, plus keep a good line-up and making sure everything is looking straight at all times.

SOCIAL MEDIA

If I had a favorite, it would be Instagram. What draws me most is being able to interact with the fans and the photos/videos that you can see. All that stuff is pretty cool to me. It’s quick, easy, and fun to be part of that environment.

THE BEST PLAYER TO NEVER HAVE BEEN AN ALL-STAR ON HIS 2018-19 SEASON EXPECTATIONS… “I think we’ll be in the mix of things like we always are at the end of the season. With the West being so competitive, it’s tough to say exactly what to expect, but can say that we have prepared ourselves—bodies and minds—to where we want that eighth-straight playoff run. We want to be that same team that we’ve always been in that aspect, so we know it’ll be tough, but gonna be ready to give our best.

ON THE NEW ALL-STAR GAME FORMAT… I think what the NBA is trying to do is put another spin on the All-Star remainign HOOP pagesgame to make it more exciting, maybe more competitive with that kind of system in place where you have two captains picking from both the East and West. So I don’t have a problem with it.

ON HOW HE WOULD PICK TEAMS IF HE WERE THE ALL-STAR CAPTAIN...

As for me being a captain, that would be interesting talent to choose from. I would easily pick my center, Mark Gasol, as my No. 1 pick. Then would probably go with LeBron, Kahwi and Anthony Davis. That would probably be my starting five.

ON NOT EVER MAKING AN ALL-STAR TEAM… If I was in the East at some point, it could have happened, but I feel strongly that being in the West at some point it should happen, even with it being so competitive. It’s a toss-up either way you put it. I’m just gonna continue to keep myself in that conversation and proving to people that I’m as good as these people.

095 JOE MURPHY (4)/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

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BEN SIMMONS In 2008, Ben Simmons’ friend and fellow basketball prodigy from Australia, Dante Exum, convinced Simmons to start playing Call of Duty: World at War. They have been linked via basketball and videogames ever since.

Nine years later, on an NBA off night in Salt Lake City, Utah, we caught up with Simmons and his lifelong bud Exum (who is currently rehabbing from a shoulder injury) teamed up once again in person to play and talk about the latest installment in the classic COD video game series, Call of Duty: WW2.

What has your Call of Duty: WW2 experience been like tonight? Not just live streaming with [popular videogame streamer] Swiftor, but also reuniting with Exum to play Call of Duty.

It has been a ton of fun. I love video games, especially Call of Duty. I grew up playing the game with Dante. He was the first one to put me on to it. I’ve been playing every Call of Duty game ever since.

How long ago was that?

Since Dante got me playing it when I was around 12, I’d say. It was Call of Duty: World at War, a shooting game on PlayStation.

That was a classic among many classics.

It’s been insane. Just watching games evolve and seeing them change it up and switch it up to keep it interesting. They’ve done a great job of that. For me, I know I play a certain way. Call of Duty: World at War was just an old-fashioned game. Then they brought jet packs and things like that into the game. Then I saw a lot of kids playing that. I grew up playing a certain way, and then you hear guys saying there are better games with the jet packs. So it’s just funny, hearing the different ages and kids and what they prefer. It’s a great game.

Do you and Dante play as a team when you play?

Yeah, we team up when we play. But at the end of the day, we always compare who has more points in the game, which is always fun. We’re both pretty competitive.

Who’s the better COD player?

Tonight? Oh, me. For sure.

Do you play together with any of your Sixers teammates?

There are some on the team who play Call of Duty, but I haven’t played with them yet.

What was it like playing with Swiftor tonight?

That was fun because I always watch YouTube videos of guys streaming and taking questions. It was good to be a part of that, to experience that.

What was your favorite part of Call of Duty: WW2?

Me being familiar with it, I especially loved the old-school roots of the game. It felt like the old World War and I enjoyed that.

When you got injured and missed the entire 2016-17 NBA season, did you get a lot of videogames in?

Yeah, it was crazy. The last Call of Duty game came out around the time I got injured, so I played a ton of that.

Obviously, when you’re hurt, you have nothing but downtime. So I’m sure you also saw more basketball and watched plenty of game film that helped you become the better player we now see before us today, right?

I think watching, it just helps with learning how to play, and I’m getting better every day. I think overall, it did help. But at the same time, you can’t really give somebody the experience of playing, unless you go out there and do it. I did have a whole year, to learn the game and get better and watch videos, and all of that helped.

OUR GAMING PICKS NBA 2K18 While it may be the only ball and court when it comes to an NBA videogame, NBA 2K18 does not rest on its laurels. Truth be told, causal players might not spot the upgrades from the edition that came out three years ago, but regular followers of the series will appreciate the subtle tweaks that bring the gameplay closer to what is on NBA courts. Fine details like players who draw more fouls will get the benefit of more calls. Enes Kanter will be a beast on offense but be a defensive liability, while the opposite holds true for Patrick Beverley. Mainstays like MyCareer and MyGM modes remain and are tweaked, but you’ll still have to deal with the sometimes ridiculous storylines and basketball tropes in the single player mode. New is The Neighborhood, an open-world concept based on local spots that any come-up baller would be familiar with—the local courts, Foot Locker, smaller one-onone courts—where they could earn points to become a legendary “99” (player rating) player. But the key update that makes upgrading NBA 2K18 worthwhile remains the top-notch gameplay.

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Destiny 2 The follow-up to the original does not disappoint as an excellent firstperson shooter game. Unlike many other FPS games, the campaign is not disposable as it does a great job of storytelling to keep you engaged. The main course, however, remains Destiny’s strong multiplayer. The social aspect of it is strong, as the game puts more emphasis on cooperative team-based play. The lootbased system (imagine collecting tickets at Chuck E Cheese) makes grinding unavoidable in the game, but it does keep you engaged to get the next big weapon. Visuals were great (tested on PS4) but for those looking for the best experience, the PC version (coupled with a beefy video card) is the way to go.

Call of Duty: WW2 Even if you’ve long been a fan of the series and have seen your share of World War II as the setting, Call of Duty WW2 doesn’t seem like a tired rehash. Despite stepping back almost 70 years in warfare, the game is very fast-paced, beginning with the iconic Normandy beach scene made famous in Saving Private Ryan and continuing with every WW2 battle. The campaign, while expectedly linear, is personal and immersive, putting you in the boots of a grunt as you navigate the war. Multiplayer is what you’d expect from a COD game, which is to say, the action is fast and furious. The hidden jewel is the Nazi Zombies mode. Not like the typical shootem-up zombie affair, this mode amps up the scare factor (zombies can pop out of every corner with little warning) while incorporating puzzle-solving.

Ammo and guns will be in short supply, leaving you with just your wits and a shovel to survive. The Nazi Zombies mode itself is worth the price of admission.

But don’t take our word for it—even Ben Simmons cosigns on the game.

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