NBA: *** 2025-26 NBA Thread ***

[twincyties]

I love watching elite passers and a lot of these guys are, so to me it has increased my interest, but I agree it doesn't help domestic overall interest and it's definitely some of the Jokic deniers in the media.

Globally the league continues to increase footprint. Have you seen some of the games in Indianapolis where Haliburton would have droves of fans who flew from Asia just to watch him? Those fans didn't get the weird angry gatekeeping media over there yelling "HALIBURTON IS NOT A STAR!!!" and just saw Tyrese was obviously one of the 5-10 most entertaining players, it actually put them ahead of the curve compared to American fans, their lack of exposure to our biggest idiot media.

I honestly don't understand the media angle. The term "gate keeping" is a good one. They insist on being an arbiter of who is good and who isn't. They do the same $hit in the NFL. I honestly don't understand it. You'd think it would be in their best interest to grow viewership and increase interest in general. It's not like CFB where you have the conferences and networks aligned. I don't like that, but I can at least understand that.

I do find the European players are more fun to watch. It's probably personal preference, but it's more pleasing to watch for me.

 

[SolterraCyclone]

I've heard the "he hasn't won a championship" knock on a lot of players (Malone, KG until he got one late, Barkley, Iverson, Paul, Kidd until he added one late, Nash, Dirk before he got his, etc) but this is the first time I've ever heard critics demand that a player has to drag a clearly below average rosters to MULTIPLE championships to be good.

If LeBron had stayed entire career in Cleveland and never recruits a super team there, he probably ends up with 2 or maybe 3 instead of the 1 he actually got Cleveland. That's not a knock on him, that's saying he was good enough to drag below average rosters to titles. That's the comp for Joker being in Denver with these rosters and these injuries to teammates.

This. The traditional GOATS (Jordan, Bird, Magic) played with multiple all-stars and at least one other top-50 all-time player. Jokic has never played with an all-star, much less a top 50 all time player. And yet he’s dragged two of these teams to the western finals and one to an NBA championship, in a time where talent is more dispersed and skilled than it’s ever been. And somehow this is used as a knock against him “well he’s only won one title”.

Hot take: there’s not another player in the history of the game that could have won more than one title with the rosters Jokic has had. And many would never have won one

 

[SolterraCyclone]

I honestly don't understand the media angle. The term "gate keeping" is a good one. They insist on being an arbiter of who is good and who isn't. They do the same $hit in the NFL. I honestly don't understand it. You'd think it would be in their best interest to grow viewership and increase interest in general. It's not like CFB where you have the conferences and networks aligned. I don't like that, but I can at least understand that.

I do find the European players are more fun to watch. It's probably personal preference, but it's more pleasing to watch for me.

There’s definitely an element of he’s not your traditional basketball player. He’s not athletic, he plays below the rim, doesn’t have a ton of highlight reel plays, he’s European, he doesn’t care about maximizing publicity, doesn’t have a shoe deal, and there’s probably a bit of a racial component too (see some of the commentary around his MVP a couple years ago from ESPN).

So a lot of American NBA fans don’t really relate to him and, as a result, have downplayed him as a player. Although I do think the last couple of years the general public’s opinion of him has gotten a lot closer to the actual quality of his play.

 

[twincyties]

This. The traditional GOATS (Jordan, Bird, Magic) played with multiple all-stars and at least one other top-50 all-time player. Jokic has never played with an all-star, much less a top 50 all time player. And yet he’s dragged two of these teams to the western finals and one to an NBA championship, in a time where talent is more dispersed and skilled than it’s ever been. And somehow this is used as a knock against him “well he’s only won one title”.

Hot take: there’s not another player in the history of the game that could have won more than one title with the rosters Jokic has had. And many would never have won one

That's a very good point.

I struggle to think who else could have taken them there with that roster.

I think the rings argument is what the Jordan fan boys always go to. It barely sustained Kobe and Duncan who got close. Had they done it, the argument would have been that they had more talent around them.

Had Lebron got there, they'd have argued it was with (a) different teams and (b) that he had to team up with the "Big 3" in Miami.

Let's say OKC goes on a run here - which is looking to be very possible given the way they're playing and their treasure chest of draft picks upcoming - they'll find another way to move the goal posts.

 

[Brockchili]

I honestly don't understand the media angle. The term "gate keeping" is a good one. They insist on being an arbiter of who is good and who isn't. They do the same $hit in the NFL. I honestly don't understand it. You'd think it would be in their best interest to grow viewership and increase interest in general. It's not like CFB where you have the conferences and networks aligned. I don't like that, but I can at least understand that.

I do find the European players are more fun to watch. It's probably personal preference, but it's more pleasing to watch for me.

The different styles and talents from European players is wonderful. Giannis, Jokic, and Doncic all do it in different ways. My personal favorite is Sengun, just crazy passing ability mixed with some old school post up game.

 

[BigJCy]

 

[deadeyededric]

OKC is going to win it all again.

 

[cyclonefan0705]

OKC is going to win it all again.

Not if they run into the spurs in the playoffs

 

[twincyties]

Wonder if the Wolves can package something together for Young. Probably not realistic without giving up a bunch of pieces I'd prefer not get rid of.

 

[SolterraCyclone]

Wonder if the Wolves can package something together for Young. Probably not realistic without giving up a bunch of pieces I'd prefer not get rid of.

I’m very interested to see what the Hawks can get for him.

He’s proven to be a losing player. High usage rate, puts up stats, but his teams don’t win.

There are some very dumb NBA GMs though, who will get infatuated with those stats and could give up a decent amount.

 

[twincyties]

I’m very interested to see what the Hawks can get for him.

He’s proven to be a losing player. High usage rate, puts up stats, but his teams don’t win.

There are some very dumb NBA GMs though, who will get infatuated with those stats and could give up a decent amount.

Agree. They're also in the business of selling tickets which is not always the same as winning. Young definitely has potential star power and he's fun to watch.

I'd love to see the wolves upgrade at PG. Conley is one of the most likeable guys in the NBA and has had a great career, but is just obviously on the downturn. I just don't know how they do it without giving up Randle, McDaniels, or Reid at which point it's possible to take a step back if an experiment between Ant and other high usage player doesn't work out.

 

[JP4CY]

I think he'd fit in Orlando.

 

[SolterraCyclone]

Agree. They're also in the business of selling tickets which is not always the same as winning. Young definitely has potential star power and he's fun to watch.

I'd love to see the wolves upgrade at PG. Conley is one of the most likeable guys in the NBA and has had a great career, but is just obviously on the downturn. I just don't know how they do it without giving up Randle, McDaniels, or Reid at which point it's possible to take a step back if an experiment between Ant and other high usage player doesn't work out.

Personally I would not ship any of those guys for Young if I’m the Wolves. I have serious doubts that Ant (usage rate ~31%) and Young (usage rate ~28-34%) could coexist.

Plus you’d have to pay Young. He wants a max extension.

 

[twincyties]

Personally I would not ship any of those guys for Young if I’m the Wolves. I have serious doubts that Ant (usage rate ~31%) and Young (usage rate ~28-34%) could coexist.

Plus you’d have to pay Young. He wants a max extension.

Agree. They're not in a great position right now in terms of being to upgrade. Unfortunately think their ceiling right now is conference finals.

 

[SolterraCyclone]

Curtis Jones got 8 minutes of action in the weirdest Nuggets win of the season. He went 0-2 with a rebound and a foul.

 

[Rural]

Who in the wide world of sports would knowingly trade for Trae Young?

 

[HFCS]

Personally I would not ship any of those guys for Young if I’m the Wolves. I have serious doubts that Ant (usage rate ~31%) and Young (usage rate ~28-34%) could coexist.

Plus you’d have to pay Young. He wants a max extension.

Thats the thing.

 

[drmwevr08]

I don't think I'd want Young, but I suppose there's a world where he can play within a system that doesn't require him to score 35 to win.

 

[HFCS]

I don't think I'd want Young, but I suppose there's a world where he can play within a system that doesn't require him to score 35 to win.

He and LaMelo Ball are both undeniably talented, but I feel like I’d need coaches and GMs to have long discussions with them before bringing them in. Nobody knows if they are inherently selfish wild cards no matter what or if they could be molded to play more like Haliburton and Cunningham where their first priority is to lift the team.

 

[simply1]

Flipping through scores, this was at the half. My goodness Utah.