Giannis Antetokounmpo
Giannis Antetokounmpo will not be traded this summer, according to Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Bucks beat writer Jim Owczarski.
That's a pretty big scoop to place in a social-media reply! But Owczarski states it just that plainly.
Noise about Antetokounmpo leaving Milwaukee has always outpaced reality. He has signed multiple extensions amid widespread speculation about him departing.
But the Bucks look more hopeless than they have at any point in Antetokounmpo's career. Damian Lillard is out long-term. Antetokounmpo's supporting cast is old and expensive. Milwaukee is nearly devoid of future picks.
Shams Charania recently reported Antetokounmpo was, for the first time, open to leaving the Bucks.
I believe Antetokounmpo prefers to remain in Milwaukee. I believe Antetokounmpo wants to win another championship. I believe Antetokounmpo uses the threat of leaving to pressure the Bucks to hold up their end of the bargain.
I'm uncertain how he'll balance those factors this summer.
But according to one reporter plugged into the Bucks, the situation is already resolved.
New York Knicks
The Knicks have a chance to party like it's 1999.
Up 3-2 on the Celtics in their second-round series, New York can get its first closeout home win since 1999 tonight in Game 6 at Madison Square Garden.
That's the longest active streak of years without a closeout home win and fourth-longest in NBA history:
Cincinnati Royals/Kansas City/Sacramento Kings: 38 years (1964-2002)
Buffalo Braves/San Diego/Los Angeles Clippers: 35 years (1971-2006)
Fort Wayne/Detroit Pistons: 32 years (1956-1988)
New York Knicks: 26 years (1999-2025)
Those other teams at least switched cities during their droughts. The Knicks have year after deprived New York fans specifically of celebrating a series-clinching win at their home arena.
The drought is partially due to the Knicks struggles – they've won just six series at all since 1999 (just four since 2000) – and partially due to happenstance. Eliminating the Celtics in Game 5 in Boston would have been better for New York.
But this gives the Knicks a chance to end this gnarly streak. They're 0-5 in home closeout games since 1999:
2025: Game 5 to Pistons (won in 6)
2024: Game 7 to Pacers (lost in 7)
2024: Game 5 to 76ers (won in 6)
2013: Game 5 to Celtics (won in 6)
2001: Game 5 Raptors (lost in 5)
New York fans have taken to the streets in celebration after wins this postseason. Tonight, they might actually get to do that after attending a home closeout game.
Charlotte
By beating the Warriors in Game 5, Minnesota just earned its first closeout home win since 2004. Sacramento also hasn't had one since 2004, though that streak continues.
But if the Knicks win tonight, the longest drought of closeout home wins would belong to… Charlotte.
Even without counting the two seasons between the original Hornets moving and the franchise re-emerging as the Bobcats, Charlotte is headed toward 23 years without a closeout home win, last ending a playoff series there in 2001.
Denver Nuggets
Last three teams with Game 7s in both the first and second round:
2025 Denver Nuggets
2020 Denver Nuggets
2019 Denver Nuggets
The last time a team did it beyond Denver was in 2016, when both the Raptors and Heat did (playing each other in the second round).
The Nuggets – whose first-round win over the Clippers came in Denver – face a daunting task in Oklahoma City on Sunday. Of the teams that won Game 7s in both the first and second round, only the 2003 Mavericks won one on the road.
All teams with Game 7s in both the first and second round (*won both)
2025 Nuggets
2020 Nuggets*
2019 Nuggets
2016 Raptors*
2016 Heat
2015 Clippers
2009 Celtics
2008 Celtics*
2006 Suns*
2003 Mavericks*
Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets are keeping their rotation TIGHT.
Despite playing every other day, Denver has used just an eight-man rotation in Games 3-6. Though Peyton Watson replaced Zeke Nnaji, who played Game 3, it's more about the heavy load on the starters. There just isn't much relief coming off the bench.
The last time a team used eight or fewer players in each of four playoff games in seven days? Rockets in 2017 (vs. Thunder). Before that, it was Suns in 2007 (vs. Spurs).
Jalen Williams
Jalen Williams scored just six points on 3-of-16 shooting last night. Last players to score so few points per shot on at least 15 attempts in a playoff game:
Thunder's Jalen Williams in 2025 Game 6 vs. Clippers
Thunder's Lu Dort in 2020 Game 5 vs. Rockets
Thunder's Paul George in 2018 Game 6 vs. Jazz
The last non-Thunder player to do it: Klay Thompson in Game 1 of the 2017 NBA Finals. Before that, it was Josh Howard in 2008.
Luka Doncic trade
Watch Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and other Warriors show their utter disbelief when learning of the Luka Doncic trade while at a charity poker tournament. They definitely weren't alone in questioning whether it was real, making funny faces while trying to make sense of it then eventually just screaming.
Boston Celtics
Wright Thompson of ESPN wrote thousands of words on how the Boston Celtics' storied past connects to their present, if you're into that sort of thing.
Phoenix Suns
The Suns are getting sued by a fourth employee/former employee, Baxter Holmes of ESPN covers.
The Suns are a multi-billion-dollar company. I wonder how often NBA teams get sued by employees. The Suns are obviously under a microscope (and should be), but I'd like that perspective.
-Dan Feldman