27 straight wins: The most dominant stretch of LeBron James’ career
ShareLikeOpen Extended Reactions542 LeBron James took a deep pull from a banana milkshake from Swensons, an Akron-based restaurant chain and a special postgame catering request the .
LeBron James took a deep pull from a banana milkshake from Swensons, an Akron-based restaurant chain and a special postgame catering request the Miami Heat made a standard order whenever they were in town. As he finished, James flopped back in his chair after a long, strange night.
“This was one of the most bizarre, unique days of my life,” he said, half smiling and half sighing.
It was approaching midnight on March 20, 2013, and James had just experienced one of the most memorable, historic and dominant moments of his career.
The Heat, in the prime of the Heatles phenomenon, had just won their 24th consecutive game after a 27-point second-half comeback in Cleveland.
There are arguments to be made about when James was at the peak of his career.
Some might favor the 2016 Finals, when he led the Cavaliers, down 3-1, to a stunning seven-game upset over Stephen Curry and the 73-win Golden State Warriors. Others might point to a breathtaking run during the 2018 playoffs, the last of an incredible streak of eight straight trips to the Finals.
But the winter and early spring of 2013 has its place, too. At age 28 with his athleticism at full power, his maturing skill development and the Heat designing a roster and system around him that allowed him to fully bloom, James and his team were devastating the league.
Whenever James returns to Miami and the Kaseya Center, as he will Thursday night with the Los Angeles Lakers, unsure of his future and whether this might be his final visit, the memory of the 2013 title he won in the building is never far from his mind.
And at the core of those memories is the 27-game winning streak the Heat assembled that season, the second longest in NBA history.
Now 13 years later, the tales from that stretch have aged like one of James’ favorite fine red wines.
Feb. 3, 2013: Win No. 1
It was a frigid Sunday afternoon in Toronto, a notorious situation that for decades had caught numerous teams in letdowns. But coming off a disappointing loss to the rival Indiana Pacers two days earlier, the second time that season the Pacers had beaten them, the Heat were in no mood for such a performance.
James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh combined for 81 points on 60% shooting in the 100-85 victory. It was the start of what would be a stretch of mind-numbingly and ruthlessly efficient games.
The Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers were facing off in Super Bowl XLVII, and the Heat were in a pinch. Their charter plane, after clearing customs, likely wouldn’t have been able to get airborne until kickoff. At the time, the plane didn’t have live TV or Wi-Fi and everyone would be in the dark for the three hours going back to Miami, missing most of the game.
But team officials had a surprise. They delayed the flight and rented out a section at the famous Toronto sports bar Real Sports, next door to the Raptors’ arena, where there is a 40-foot-wide screen. And there was an open bar too.
The beer flowed and Heat forward Shane Battier got drunk on Anchor Steam, stealing a Colin Kaepernick jersey off a dummy set up for the occasion. Later, on the way to the airport, Battier grabbed the microphone on the bus and gave an impromptu speech to his lubed-up teammates to “touch the people” as he urged them to take advantage of the Heat’s popularity in that time and place.
“I was feeling the love. It was one of the great days of being a teammate,” Battier said on “The OGs” show in 2024. “I just felt like someone had to say something to capture the moment.”
There would be no loss for the next 52 days.
Feb. 26, 2013: Win No. 12
Knowing the big three Heat stars would have to sacrifice shots when playing together, coach Erik Spoelstra sold them on a multiyear plan to emphasize efficiency.
Take higher-value, higher-percentage and higher-leverage shots, he told them, and their scoring wouldn’t fall off.
It all came together during this run — almost too well.
The ball movement and defense-to-offense transition was clicking, and James, Bosh and Wade relentlessly hunted for only great shots — to the point where sometimes the bench players would yell at them for passing up shots that were merely “good.”
During one six-game stretch in the streak, James made 72% of his shots while averaging 31 points. In a nine-game stretch, Wade made 61% of his shots and averaged 28 points. And in a six-game stretch, Bosh made 65% of his shots and averaged 23.
It culminated in this double-OT 141-129 win over the Sacramento Kings. James scored 40 points on 23 shots with a then-career-high 16 assists. Wade had 39 points on 28 shots. It was their last game of February. James shot 64% for the month.
The next day, the Heat secretly filmed their viral Harlem Shake video, refusing to tell coaches and staff what they were doing after they brought in a bunch of costumes and props and then holed up in the locker room.
The quirky response to the trend of the moment got millions of hits over the next week, solidifying even further that everything the team did at that point turned to gold.
“In practice that day we were giddy,” Wade remembered in a recent Amazon Prime broadcast. “We were in there like little kids, giggling. Spo was mad at us because we were giggling too much.”
March 6, 2013: Win No. 16
With less than a minute left and holding a three-point lead and the ball, the Orlando Magic thought they were going to put an end to the streak. It had been a statement game from young big man Nikola Vucevic, who had 25 points and 21 rebounds.
But the Heat’s defense tightened when it mattered most, finishing the game with five consecutive stops. It set up a winner from James, who hit a driving layup with 3.2 seconds left to save the streak and win 97-96.
James had 24 points, the 200th straight regular-season game in which he had scored in double figures. He would do so 1,097 more times over the next 12½ years.
“He is defined by winning plays,” Spoelstra said that night. “He just continues to make them.”
March 18, 2013: Win No. 23
The Heat and Celtics, deep into their rivalry by this point, made for appointment viewing, especially the games in Boston. Though they’d beaten the Celtics in the playoffs the previous two seasons, the Heat hadn’t won a regular-season game in Boston in six years.
The Celtics were missing Rajon Rondo, who had just torn the ACL in his right knee, and Kevin Garnett, who was hampered by a thigh injury and the flu.
In their absence, Jeff Green had one of the best games of his career, scoring 43 points. With eight minutes to go, Boston had a 13-point lead and the jubilant crowd at TD Garden was itching to celebrate a victory.
But James wouldn’t allow it, leading an improbable comeback from 17 points down to finish with 37 points, seven rebounds and 12 assists. He scored 13 in the fourth quarter, tying the game with a clutch layup and then delivering the winning 20-footer with 10.5 seconds left. Final score: Heat 105, Celtics 103.
He also made a massive highlight that would become one of the defining moments of his career, dunking over personal rival Jason Terry. Terry had needled and then gotten the better of James during the 2011 Finals when Terry was with the victorious Dallas Mavericks.
James relished putting Terry on a poster. In a rare move, James stood over Terry as he lay on the court, with veteran referee Scott Foster stepping in and giving James a technical foul for taunting.
“That it happened to JT made it that much sweeter. Because we all know JT and he talks too much sometimes,” James said then. “I’m glad it happened to him.”
And then the Heat returned to Cleveland.
March 20, 2013: Win No. 24
With seven minutes left in the third quarter, the Cavaliers took a 27-point lead on the Heat.
Three years post-“Decision,” the fans in Cleveland, infamous for the venom they’d aimed at James upon his departure, were reveling in the chance to hand him a loss that would end the Heat’s chances of catching the Lakers’ 33-game streak from 1971-72.
But suddenly, Miami got hot from 3-point range. Battier hit three of them. Ray Allen hit two. The Cavs couldn’t make a shot or get a defensive rebound. James opened the fourth quarter by nailing three straight 3-pointers of his own, and the Heat finished off a 45-12 run that flipped the game.
Then, with eight minutes left, a young man sprinted past security and onto the floor. Wearing a white T-shirt with the words “We Miss You” on the front and “Come Back 2014” on the back, he positioned himself in front of James, who was scheduled to be a free agent the following year.
Heat vice president of team security David Holcombe grabbed the man, James Blair, within seconds. But James stopped Holcombe as he was taking Blair off the floor and patted the fan on the head.
Blair, a lifelong James fan, told him to “come home” as he was being dragged off the floor by police. The next day, after he was released from jail, Blair had been both followed by James on social media and banned by the Cavs from returning to the arena.
James finished with 25 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists, three steals and two blocks in a 98-95 victory.
“One of the best comebacks I’ve ever been part of,” James said before finishing his milkshake.
The Heat’s win streak ended a week later in Chicago, on March 27, when the Chicago Bulls jumped out to a 10-point lead in the first quarter and prevented the Heat from going on one of their patented runs. The crowd at United Center celebrated heartily after their team held on to a 101-97 victory to end the Heat’s quest for history.
Only one team since has won more than 20 in a row, when the 2015-16 Warriors opened the season 24-0 on the way to their record 73-win season.
The Heat were 29-14 when the streak started and finished their season on a 37-2 run. They went on to win their second straight title in another piece of history, their seven-game series with the San Antonio Spurs that featured Allen’s miraculous 3-pointer to send Game 6 to overtime.
It was never the same for that Heat group again — they lost to the Spurs in a Finals rematch in 2014, and James returned to Cleveland that summer — but the streak lives on as that team’s trademark.
“I wish I had him for another 6-8 years,” Heat president Pat Riley said last month, referencing James’ departure a year later. “It would’ve been great, but we’ll never know [how many titles could’ve been won], will we?”
James, who hugged Riley when Riley was in Los Angeles to have his statue unveiled outside Crypto.com Arena in February, cherishes that time.
“The four years that we had was great. Was able to pick up two chips,” James said. “A lot of great memories. A lot of great times there.”
2026 NBA playoffs: Biggest questions, projections, what to watch
NBA Insiders
Mar 18, 2026, 11:00 AMShareLikeOpen Extended Reactions620
The NBA is less than a month away from turning the page on the 2025-26 regular season to the playoffs. Competition across the league is intensifying as Eastern and Western conference teams are working to secure their spots in the postseason — or turning their attention to the offseason.
Some teams are fine-tuning and evaluating their play as the postseason landscape remains in flux. Others are grappling with how different their squads could look next season. Regardless of the standings, the last month of the regular season is hectic for all 30 teams, especially those positioning for seeding in the playoffs — or play-in tournament.
Our ESPN insiders answer the biggest questions facing the East and West title contenders and discuss what each is focusing on in their remaining regular-season games.
What’s been the source of theDetroit Pistons‘ late-season struggles and how can they adjust in the postseason?
The Pistons’ defense has taken a dip since the All-Star break, and it’s contributed to losses that have brought about doubts. In their 40-13 start, their defense was second in the league at 108.3 points per 100 possessions. Since going 9-6 after the break, Detroit’s defense is still top 10, but at 112.1 points per 100 possessions. Their superpower is making sure teams can’t play their best.
Their shot creation will come up in the postseason, and there’s only so much they can do around Cade Cunningham in the meantime. But they can control defensive intensity, and rediscovering that will go a long way toward success this season. — Vincent Goodwill
In a similar fashion to how they have the first week: gradually ramping up his minutes to prepare him for what Boston hopes is a deep playoff run. In his first three games, Tatum played 27 minutes before increasing to 32 minutes in his fourth and fifth games. The Celtics have another month to build him up to a playoff workload and expect them to take full advantage of that. — Tim Bontemps
The numbers say New York is a game better than last year’s pace, but it doesn’t feel like it. The Knicks have improved with a top-five offense and a top-10 defense, both better than last season. That’s largely attributed to the narrative around Thibs teams being historically great defensively, the Knicks’ up-and-down nature this season and the enormous, often suffocating expectations. The starters’ minutes are down as Mike Brown has a deeper rotation.
The vibes don’t feel great right now — but the vibes weren’t great last year, either. The true test will come in May and possibly June. The passage of time seems to color last year in ways that aren’t necessarily true. There’s an opportunity in front of the Knicks, and it’s time they recognize that. — Goodwill
How has James Harden given the Cleveland Cavaliers the confidence that he can help push the team past the Pistons, Celtics and Knicks?
The Cavs have gone 12-6 since making the trade for Harden, including going 11-4 in games with him in the lineup, and are looking much more like the team that began the season as one of the favorites in the conference. Cleveland has the second-best offensive rating in the NBA since the deadline as Harden’s passing has elevated the team on that side of the ball: He’s relieved an overtaxed Donovan Mitchell, unlocked Jarrett Allen in the pick-and-roll and delivered easy passes and wide-open looks for the shooters around him.
Most importantly for the Cavs, Harden has been available, a key reason why they wanted an upgrade for Darius Garland and why coach Kenny Atkinson told ESPN Harden’s arrival has given his team a “renewed confidence.” — Jamal Collier
How will the next month impact Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s and Doc Rivers’ futures in Milwaukee?
Not much. Time has been the Bucks’ fallback plan throughout their yearlong stare-down with Antetokounmpo. The team has insisted throughout its disappointing campaign that there was still enough time either for an in-season turnaround, to rebuild as a contender or to convince Antetokounmpo to sign another extension to remain in Milwaukee.
Yet, the reality of the standings (trailing the No. 10 seed by 5½ games) and the chasm between Milwaukee and true contenders is evident. No matter how the final month of the season ends, the Bucks will have to face that reality this summer. — Collier
Projections via ESPN’s Basketball Power Index, through every March 16 game.
What’s the one East game you have circled on your calendar?
I’m going to cheat and pick two because the Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat meet on April 7 and April 9 in Toronto. As of Tuesday afternoon, Toronto leads Miami by a half-game, so the outcome of that two-game series could determine which team receives an automatic playoff berth and which team must navigate a tricky play-in field. — Zach Kram
How concerning is the Oklahoma City Thunder‘s injury issues one month from the playoffs?
Jalen Williams‘ hamstring is the Thunder’s one significant injury concern at this point. Oklahoma City will have to proceed with caution after he aggravated the strain in his second game after returning just before the All-Star break. The hope is that Williams, who missed the first 19 games while recovering from offseason wrist surgery and has been sidelined almost all of the past two months, will be able to play his way into a rhythm by the time the playoffs begin.
The Thunder can afford to be patient as they are 36-8 without Williams in the lineup this season and have an three-game cushion over the Spurs at the top of the West standings. But Oklahoma City knows how critical Williams is to its hopes of defending a title. His 40-point outing in Game 5 of last season’s NBA Finals might have been the most important individual performance in franchise history. — Tim MacMahon
Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs haven’t yet made the playoffs. How high is their confidence level heading into the regular season’s final stretch?
It’s soaring, especially after San Antonio racked up a 5-1 record in a six-game homestand that featured impressive victories over expected postseason participants Detroit, the LA Clippers, Rockets, Celtics and Hornets. The Spurs entered the homestand welcoming the diversity of playing styles, personnel and potential on-court situations they would encounter as they looked to sharpen up for the stretch run and their first playoff berth since 2019.
Wembanyama missed one game during the homestand due to an ankle injury, but he returned to produce his fifth straight game with 25 points on 50% shooting or better from the field to tie LaMarcus Aldridge (2018) for the third-longest streak of such games by a Spur in the past 25 seasons. –– Michael C. Wright
After back-to-back trips to the West finals, what can the Minnesota Timberwolves do in the next month to show that the team is ready for another deep playoff run?
It would be ideal if the Timberwolves could establish some consistency. Minnesota’s roller-coaster act can be maddening, but the past couple of seasons featured plenty of ups and downs and ended with conference finals runs. The Wolves have slipped significantly on the defensive end this season, ranking ninth in efficiency, down from sixth last season and first in 2023-24.
They’ve been especially bad since the All-Star break, allowing 116.4 points per 100 possessions, which ranks 21st during that span. That is a trend that must end for Minnesota to make another run. Wolves phenom Anthony Edwards is also dealing with right knee soreness, and he will be reevaluated in one to two weeks. –– MacMahon
Can the Houston Rockets play in the Western Conference playoffs without a true point guard?
Absolutely. But it’s unlikely they’ll play long if they can’t shore up some of the other issues — such as turnovers and closing games — that have affected this team all season. Without a true point guard, Houston believes it can scheme around deficiencies at the position, according to an assistant, who said the Rockets could draw up plays that make Amen Thompson more effective offensively, while manipulating schemes to protect defensive liability Reed Sheppard on the other end.
Houston also needs center Alperen Sengun to shake off his recent defensive struggles, while sharpening his acumen as a hub on offense. –– Wright
Whether his answer was fueled by experience, patience, or just blind faith, Lakers coach JJ Redick presented a clear vision when asked about his team’s chances in the final stretch of the regular season and into the playoffs.
“I’m confident we’re going to find it,” Redick said last week. “How we’re going to find it, that’s where it’s … you got to figure it out on a daily basis sometimes.”
While their big three’s net rating is a positive (plus-3.2 in 20 games played with one another), their individual pairings are not all alike. James and Doncic have a net rating of minus-2.1, James and Reaves are plus-1.2 — Reaves and Doncic are plus-8.0. Redick has attempted to smooth the fit two ways: by staggering the minutes they play together, allowing James to play more on ball with the second unit, and by asking James to embrace being more complementary than featured when on the floor with those two.
“I know he wants to win, and he wants to do everything possible to help this team win,” Redick said of James. — Dave McMenamin
Into any level of fringe contention? Nope. Jimmy Butler III‘s ACL tear unofficially ended those dreams. But there’s still a competitive team within the leftover roster, as long as Kristaps Porzingis is available and Curry is back and revved up for the play-in bracket. It’s becoming increasingly clear the Warriors will have to play out of the nine against 10 slot.
That means they will need to beat the Portland Trail Blazers in an elimination game and then beat the loser of a matchup that would currently be between the Phoenix Suns and LA Clippers. If they pull that off — needing Curry — they will be rewarded with the West’s top seed, likely the Oklahoma City Thunder, in the first round. The path back to relevancy this season is daunting. — Anthony Slater
Projections via ESPN’s Basketball Power Index, through every March 16 game.
What’s the one West game you have circled on your calendar?
The Denver Nuggets should remain a top-six team in the West, thanks to a fairly easy schedule down the stretch. (Two of the Nuggets’ hardest remaining games are against the Thunder and Spurs to close the regular season, but those teams could be locked into their seeds and resting for the playoffs at that point.)
But if the Nuggets lose to the Suns on March 24, things could get interesting. Denver would surely prefer to avoid the play-in tournament and a potential first-round matchup with either San Antonio or Oklahoma City. — Kram
With a few weeks to go in the regular season, it’s a three-player race for the league’s highest individual honor. Last year’s winner, Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, is the favorite to win it again, with three-time winner Nikola Jokic and young phenom Victor Wembanyama hot on his heels. This could come down to how the West plays out.
If OKC stays on top, SGA should win again. But if the Thunder get passed by the Spurs? Well, Wemby’s dreams of an MVP and DPOY in the same season — something only Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon and Giannis Antetokounmpo have ever done — will be well within reach. — Bontemps
Which standings race is the most important to watch for the lottery?
Obviously, whichever team is your favorite. But objectively, the Pacers are the team on the narrowest margins. Indiana currently sits dead last in the standings and has only top-four protection on its pick after dealing for Ivica Zubac. Indiana must stay in the bottom three and preserve the full 52.1% chance of keeping its pick — essentially the better side of what’s still a coin flip.
If the Pacers are lucky and keep it, they’ll be able to add a healthy Tyrese Haliburton and a second young star into the fold with Zubac on what should be a playoff-level team next season. If they don’t, the Clippers instead walk away with a legit building block in the five to nine range, putting the fate of two teams squarely in the balance. — Jeremy Woo
Who is a playoff sleeper to watch?
The top five teams by defensive rating include the top two seeds in each conference (Oklahoma City, Detroit, San Antonio and Boston), as well as the Heat, who are much farther back in the standings. But the Heat have made Finals runs from a low seed before. Their recent surge makes them a compelling candidate, especially if Bam Adebayo and Kel’el Ware give them a big man duo to match all the double-big lineups in the East.
As of Tuesday afternoon, lineups with Adebayo and Ware playing together have a plus-22.2 net rating in their past 10 games. — Kram
Mar 18, 2026, 12:45 PMShareLikeOpen Extended Reactions1.6K
There’s less than a month left in the 2025-26 NBA regular season, and teams are already claiming spots in the postseason as well as bowing their way out of any chance of extending their season into June.
The Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs are the only two teams to at least clinch a spot in the postseason, as both are having dominant runs through a competitive Western Conference. And while those Finals contenders largely secured their spots behind the play of superstars — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama are both vying for MVP this season — winning in the NBA often comes down to players on the margins.
In addition to the updated 1-30 rankings, our NBA insiders are spotlighting one unheralded player on every team — from young difference-makers on playoff contenders to veterans providing a late-season spark on teams headed for the lottery.
Note: Team rankings are based on where members of our panel (ESPN’s Anthony Slater, Dave McMenamin, Jamal Collier, Michael C. Wright, Bobby Marks, Tim Bontemps, Tim MacMahon, Vincent Goodwill and Zach Kram) think teams belong.
Next games: @ BKN (Mar. 18), @ WAS (Mar. 21), @ PHI (Mar. 23)
Bigger names were traded at the deadline, but Sam Presti acquiring Jared McCain from Philadelphia for Houston’s 2026 first-rounder (plus three second-rounders) might be as impactful as any move in the current title chase. While other contenders didn’t do much, the Thunder injected a second-year guard with a growing track record as a microwave scorer into their bench. It remains to be seen how McCain will fit into a full playoff rotation in OKC, but he’s made 43.8% of his 3s and averaged 11.4 bench points in his 17 games since crossing conferences, aiding the injury-riddled Thunder in a recent nine-game winning streak. — Anthony Slater
Next games: vs. PHX (Mar. 19), vs. IND (Mar. 21), @ MIA (Mar. 23)
Rookie guard Dylan Harper has been instrumental in the Spurs achieving their first 50-win season since 2016-17, which snapped a drought of eight consecutive seasons. Before that, San Antonio earned at least 50 victories every season from 1999-2000 and 2016-17. The second pick of the 2025 NBA draft, Harper plays the role of sixth man in arguably the most formidable backcourt unit in the league. Harper has been out the past two games with a bruised right calf. But he contributed heavily to the Spurs winning 18 of their past 20 entering Tuesday night. — Michael C. Wright
Next games: @ WAS (Mar. 19), vs. GSW (Mar. 20), vs. LAL (Mar. 23)
Isaiah Stewart’s value cannot be overstated, and when he’s not on the floor, it’s felt. The Pistons survived his seven-game suspension, but now a bothersome left calf has been deemed a strain, and he’ll be out at least a week. As the league’s best rim protector, the Pistons want to be very careful with him heading to the playoffs. Last postseason, he was limited to just 19 minutes in a critical Game 1 against the Knicks. — Vincent Goodwill
Next games: vs. GSW (Mar. 18), @ MEM (Mar. 20), vs. MIN (Mar. 22)
After hardly playing last year after being taken late in the first round, the 25-year-old Baylor Scheierman has become a consistent rotation player under coach Joe Mazzulla this season, shooting 38% from 3-point range and providing consistent energy off the bench on the wings. — Tim Bontemps
Next games: @ BKN (Mar. 20), vs. WAS (Mar. 22), vs. NO (Mar. 24)
It’s hard to argue with the long-term strategy to get Mitchell Robinson to the floor and keep him there. The Knicks spent the first few months of the season managing his minutes, keeping him out of back-to-backs and generally out of harm’s way. The Knicks are hoping he will be able to play heavy minutes in the postseason, and it’s easy to see why he’s become an integral part of their offense. Robinson’s offensive rebounding (4.4) often leads to 3-pointers and similarly keeps him off the foul line. Last Friday against the Pacers, in a season-high 31 minutes, he grabbed nine of his season-high 22 rebounds on the offensive end. — Goodwill
Next games: @ HOU (Mar. 18), @ MIA (Mar. 19), @ ORL (Mar. 21), @ DET (Mar. 23)
As the lone Laker to play in every game this season, Jake LaRavia has been a mighty important piece for coach JJ Redick. While his recent struggles from deep have gotten their share of attention (he’s 1-for-14 from 3 in March), he remains one of L.A.’s most versatile defenders and can do a bit of everything on the court, averaging 8.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.2 steals per game. — Dave McMenamin
Next games: @ CHI (Mar. 19), @ NO (Mar. 21), vs. ORL (Mar. 24)
Second-year guard Jaylon Tyson has emerged as a huge contributor for the Cavs, filling in as a starter during the first half of the season as the team dealt with injuries and finding his rotation spot as a reserve after the team’s trade deadline acquisitions. He ranks third in the NBA in 3-point percentage (45.7% on 4.5 attempts per game), which makes him a strong connector alongside Donovan Mitchell and James Harden — Tyson has found some success as a screener in pick-and-rolls next to the Cavs stars. — Jamal Collier
Next games: @ MEM (Mar. 18), vs. TOR (Mar. 20), vs. POR (Mar. 22), @ PHX (Mar. 24)
Tim Hardaway Jr. has been one of the best values in the league on a veterans minimum deal. The 34-year-old guard has provided the Nuggets a much-needed dose of offense off the bench, averaging 13.9 points in 27.2 minutes per game entering Tuesday night. He is tied for 13th in the league with 188 made 3-pointers and is shooting 41.0% from long range. — Tim MacMahon
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Next games: vs. LAL (Mar. 18), vs. ATL (Mar. 20), vs. MIA (Mar. 21), @ CHI (Mar. 23)
Reed Sheppard has logged just 10 starts this season, but Houston’s struggling offense needs to figure out how to best use the boost the sharpshooting sixth man can provide from deep and minimize his defensive shortcomings. Kevin Durant took responsibility Monday for another late-game collapse against the Lakers, saying, “I’m the offense. And the opposing team is going to use all [its] resources to not let me get comfortable.” Houston scored 35 points and finished with more turnovers (17) than field goals (14) in the second half. The problem is that when teams double Durant, the Rockets struggle to exploit the matchup advantages behind it. — Wright
Next games: vs. UTAH (Mar. 18), vs. POR (Mar. 20), @ BOS (Mar. 22)
The 25-year-old guard Bones Hyland has revived his career in Minnesota playing for Wolves president Tim Connelly, who drafted him in the first round in Denver. Hyland, who is shooting 38.5% from 3-point range and providing an offensive boost off the bench, will be needed in the coming games with Anthony Edwards sidelined with right knee inflammation. — Bontemps
Next games: @ CHA (Mar. 19), vs. LAL (Mar. 21), vs. IND (Mar. 23), @ CLE (Mar. 24)
Give Orlando’s front office credit for its recent draft history. Not only did it select Anthony Black outside of the top five, but it also selected forward Tristan da Silva. Since the All-Star break, da Silva has started 12 of 15 games, averaging 12.9 PPG, 5.6 RPG and shooting 50% from the field. For the season, the lineup of Jalen Suggs, Desmond Bane, da Silva, Paolo Banchero and Wendell Carter is a plus-15.9 points per 100 possessions. — Bobby Marks
Next games: @ SA (Mar. 19), vs. MIL (Mar. 21), vs. TOR (Mar. 22), vs. DEN (Mar. 24)
Jordan Goodwin signed a two-way contract with the Lakers last February, had it converted to a standard contract in March, was waived in July and was quickly scooped up by Phoenix, where he has become a vital role player on both ends of the court. The sturdy 6-foot-3 combo guard is averaging 8.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.4 steals off the bench for a surprise Suns team that entered Tuesday 10 games over .500. — McMenamin
Next games: vs. LAL (Mar. 19), @ HOU (Mar. 21), vs. SA (Mar. 23)
For a Heat team featuring Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro and Norman Powell, the name Pelle Larsson typically would not stand out. But the second-round pick in 2024 scored a career-high 28 points last week in a win against Milwaukee, and in 45 starts this season, Larsson is averaging 12.6 points per game and is shooting 51.3% from the field. The Heat are plus-4.9 points per 100 possessions and boast a 111.8 defensive rating with Larsson on the court. And no one on the Heat roster has taken more charges this season. — Marks
Next games: @ DAL, (Mar. 18), @ HOU (Mar. 20), vs. GSW (Mar. 21), vs. MEM (Mar. 23)
The win Monday against Orlando capped off a 5-0 homestand and a 10-game winning streak for the Hawks, their longest since 2014-15. During that span, Nickeil Alexander-Walker has made a strong case for “most improved” honors, shooting 53% from the field and 45.9% from 3. Against the Magic, he scored a career-high 41 points and shot 9-for-15 from 3. In his first season with the Hawks after being a reserve last season for the Timberwolves, Alexander-Walker’s scoring has increased from 9.4 PPG to 20.3. — Marks
Next games: @ CHI (Mar. 18), @ DEN (Mar. 20), @ PHX (Mar. 22), @ UTAH (Mar. 23)
In his first season in Toronto, Sandro Mamukelashvili has quietly been one of the NBA’s most productive backup bigs. Averaging 10.8 PPG on 63% true shooting, the 6-9 Mamukelashvili has played in 65 of 67 games for a team in desperate need of size. With the more heralded Jakob Poeltl and Collin Murray-Boyles both missing long stretches due to injury, Mamukelashvili’s availability has been a boon to Toronto. — Zach Kram
Stephen A.: The Knicks need to stand up, period
Stephen A. Smith sends his message to the Knicks after their loss to the Lakers.
Next games: @ NO (Mar. 18), @ NO (Mar. 19), @ DAL (Mar. 21), vs. MIL (Mar. 23)
Bennedict Mathurin arrived in L.A. at the trade deadline from Indiana and provided instant offense off the bench, averaging career highs with 19.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.1 steals. Most impressively, the Clippers have gone 9-7 in the games he’s played, staying firmly in the play-in picture in an increasingly difficult Western Conference. — McMenamin
Next games: vs. ORL (Mar. 19), vs. MEM (Mar. 21), vs. SAC (Mar. 4)
Grant Williams not only brings a rare veteran presence to an extremely young roster, but the 27-year-old forward has been a solid two-way player since returning from a torn ACL on Jan. 10. He is averaging a career-high 13.6 points per 36 minutes on 60% true shooting, and he has cemented himself as a backup forward for one of the regular season’s best stories. — Kram
Next games: @ SAC (Mar. 19), @ UTAH (Mar. 21), vs. OKC (Mar. 23)
With Joel Embiid playing just 33 games this season due to a mix of injuries and load management, Adem Bona has developed into a serviceable rotation center for Philadelphia in his second NBA season, shooting 58.2% from the field with 1.2 blocks per game in what primarily has been a depth role behind either Embiid or Andre Drummond. — Bontemps
Next games: @ BOS (Mar. 18), @ DET (Mar. 20), @ ATL (Mar. 21), @ DAL (Mar. 23)
A strict minutes limit has reduced Kristaps Porzingis to a reserve role in four of his five games with the Warriors. But the timing, rhythm and conditioning appear to be returning. Porzingis has scored 17, 20 and then 30 points in his last three games in 20, 22 and then 26 minutes, pushing them across the finish line for a needed win in Washington with a barrage of late free throws. Warriors coach Steve Kerr said Porzingis is finding the “answers” he’d been seeking for the health issues that have impacted his career. If he can stick on the court the next month, Porzingis will become an intriguing unrestricted free agent in the summer market. — Slater
It’s been a nice second season for Donovan Clingan, the 2024 No. 7 overall pick, despite little fanfare. He’s third in the NBA at 11.6 rebounds per game and one of only eight players in the league averaging a double-double after a relatively quiet rookie year. It’s yet to be seen whether Clingan’s counting stats (including 1.6 blocks per game) will contribute to winning. The Blazers are slightly better defensively with him on the court and slightly worse offensively. But there have been some early signs of progress. — Slater
Kyle Kuzma has been an awkward fit for this Bucks roster from the moment he was acquired at last year’s deadline, but the 30-year-old forward bought into a new role. He’s shooting 49.2% from the field and averaging 13.2 points per game as mostly a reserve for the first time in five years. He has been more engaged defensively, stepping into a large role on that end of the floor. The Bucks have been an overall disappointment this season, but Kuzma has shown flashes of the versatility Milwaukee lauded when it acquired him.— Collier
Next games: vs. TOR (Mar. 18), vs. CLE (Mar. 19), vs. HOU (Mar. 23)
Coach Billy Donovan has unapologetically praised Tre Jones during another meandering season for the Bulls, highlighting his production, intangibles, leadership, and unselfishness. Jones is averaging 12.9 points (on 55% shooting) and 5.5 assists in 27 minutes. As the Bulls try to find some way to salvage another empty campaign, they believe the 26-year-old guard, who signed a three-year, $24 million contract last summer, can help create a culture in Chicago. — Collier
Next games: vs. LAC (Mar. 18), vs. LAC (Mar. 19), vs. CLE (Mar. 21), @ NYK (Mar. 24)
Rookie Derik Queen started in 45 games — two of which delivered the only triple-doubles by a rookie this season — before moving to a reserve role and seeing his minutes dip as a result at the end of February. Hopefully, the Pelicans won’t ignore the potential franchise cornerstone down the stretch. New Orleans is making good on its goal to build momentum going into the offseason, capturing its eighth win in 12 games, including five in a row at home, which registers as the team’s longest home win streak since 2023. — Wright
Next games: vs. DEN (Mar. 18), vs. BOS (Mar. 20), @ CHA (Mar. 21), @ ATL (Mar. 23)
A tank job won’t feature many unsung heroes, but forward Taylor Hendricks has turned into a solid contributor from the Jaren Jackson Jr. trade. With upcoming matchups against the Nuggets and Celtics, the Grizzlies could be well on their way to 10 consecutive losses, which would move them into better lottery positioning. It’s unclear how the Grizzlies plan to conduct a quick rebuild, but they have solid, young pieces such as Hendricks, the ninth pick in 2023, along with Cedric Coward and Jaylen Wells. — Wright
Next games: vs. ATL (Mar. 18), vs. LAC (Mar. 21), vs. GSW (Mar. 23)
Dwight Powell has been the epitome of a pro since arriving in Dallas as an unheralded rookie in the Rajon Rondo trade in 2015. He ranks fifth in franchise history in games played (752), trailing only a quartet of players whose jerseys hang from the American Airlines Center rafters. Powell, who made 262 starts, has settled into a fringe rotation role but has remained productive. He has the Mavs’ best plus-minus (plus-41) this season. The only active players who have had longer stints with their current franchises are Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Giannis Antetokounmpo. — MacMahon
Next games: @ MIN (Mar. 18), vs. MIL (Mar. 19), vs. PHI (Mar. 21), vs. TOR (Mar. 23)
Svi Mykhailiuk, a 28-year-old playing for his eighth NBA team, has provided optimism for the Jazz that he can be a solid role player next season when Utah intends to be competitive. Mykhailiuk has averaged 9.1 points in 23.4 minutes per game with a usage rate of only 14.4%. He’s shooting 40.3% from 3-point range, spacing the floor and serving as a connector who moves the ball when he doesn’t have a good look. — MacMahon
Next games: vs. PHI (Mar. 19), vs. BKN (Mar. 22), @ CHA (Mar. 24)
In his rookie season, Dylan Cardwell has worked himself from way off the draft radar into a two-way bright spot for the Kings and eventually a notable part of their rebuild, earning a multiyear contract extension in early February on the main roster. He sprained his left ankle soon after and missed 11 games, but Cardwell returned this past week and was a contributor in two Sacramento wins. He will get rotation minutes the rest of the season and profiles as the team’s backup center next season. — Slater
Next games: vs. OKC (Mar. 18), vs. NYK (Mar. 20), @ SAC (Mar. 22), @ POR (Mar. 23)
It feels like the entire roster has been in the evaluation stage the whole season, and as of late, rookie Ben Saraf is getting extended looks. In the past four games Saraf has averaged 12 points, 4.8 assists and 1.8 steals in 26.5 minutes. His 15 points in the Nets’ 114-95 loss to Portland were a season high, eclipsing his previous high of 12 from two nights before. Seemingly every rookie has gotten a chance to play longer minutes, and now the not-yet-20-year-old is getting his. — Goodwill
Next games: vs. DET (Mar. 19), vs. OKC (Mar. 21), @ NYK (Mar. 22)
Other than Trae Young, who has played only five games with his new team, the Wizards’ leader in points per 36 minutes is a surprise. It’s not Alex Sarr, or Kyshawn George, or any of the team’s other high draft picks or veterans they’ve traded. It’s backup center Tristan Vukcevic, a former second-rounder, who’s averaging a robust 22.9 points per 36 on solid efficiency. With increased playing time since the trade deadline, Vukcevic has scored in double figures in 10 of 13 games. — Kram
Next games: vs. POR (Mar. 18), @ SA (Mar. 21), @ ORL (Mar. 23)
Jarace Walker is finally rounding into form for the Pacers. Over his 23 games entering Tuesday night, the No. 8 pick from the 2023 draft was averaging 15.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game while making 37% of his 3s. The Pacers continue to lose almost every game they play, but Walker is proving he deserves a spot in their rotation next year, when they’re at full strength and ready to win again. — Kram
NBA expansion: Seattle, Las Vegas, draft format, news, updates
Tim Bontemps and
Bobby Marks
Mar 16, 2026, 06:08 PMShareLikeOpen Extended Reactions1.2K
In December 2020, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said the league was taking a fresh look at the idea of expanding after nearly two decades. For the past five years since he floated the concept, an entire industry around the idea has developed as great anticipation has built.
And after several fits and starts, the league is now barreling toward the addition of two teams, as ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Monday that next week’s board of governors meeting will include a vote to explore adding Seattle and Las Vegas franchises beginning with the 2028-29 season.
Here’s our latest intel from conversations with sources in and around the NBA on how this complicated, league-altering process could play out.
Expansion is an economic question for the league’s existing 30 owners. At what point does the math make sense to where it becomes worth it to go from owning 1/30 of the league to 1/32?
NBA teams currently own 3.33% of the league. If the league jumps to 32 teams, that percentage drops to 3.13%. While that might seem like an insignificant change, those fractions of a percentage will really add up over time — particularly when factoring in, for example, the league’s media rights deal, which is currently an 11-year, $76 billion package split between Disney, Amazon and Comcast.
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So why would the owners do it? Because, at some point, the math tips in their favor if the expansion fees — which aren’t shared with the players and go straight into the owners’ pockets — get big enough. With team valuations skyrocketing in recent seasons, including the Los Angeles Lakers selling for $10 billion last year, the realistic numbers the NBA could expect to pursue in expansion has risen along with it. Charania reported that proposals could land between $7 and $10 billion.
For example, let’s say both teams sell for a total of $15 billion. That would mean all 30 existing NBA owners would immediately receive a $500 million check, a massive incentive to move forward with expansion now.
Will expansion definitely happen?
It will be shocking if expansion doesn’t happen.
Within league circles, it has been seen as the expected outcome for several years, though it was far from a certainty because of some pushback from different owners over the economics for the reasons laid out above. However, when Silver said in December a decision was coming in 2026, the belief within the league was that expansion to Seattle and Las Vegas was close to inevitable.
While next week’s vote is not a binding resolution, something like that is more likely to come at the July board of governors meeting during the Las Vegas Summer League, sources told ESPN.
Do the players have any say?
The decision on expansion rests solely with the board of governors and will require approval from 23 of the 30 existing owners to move forward. While the National Basketball Players Association has a say in many matters — for example, potentially making the schedule shorter — adding teams is not one of them.
That said, the idea of adding another 30 roster spots (36 including two-way contracts) is one the union would be very much in favor of, sources said.
Why Seattle?
To right a past wrong.
Seattle has been the biggest city in the country without an NBA team for nearly 20 years, since the SuperSonics moved to Oklahoma City. Bringing a team back to Seattle in 2028-29, 20 years after the Thunder began playing in OKC in 2008, would become one of the defining events of Silver’s tenure as commissioner.
For years, the issue with the NBA’s return to Seattle was the lack of a replacement for KeyArena, deemed inadequate by the league as part of the Sonics’ move. That changed in 2021 when the renovated Climate Pledge Arena opened as home of the WNBA’s Storm and the expansion NHL Kraken.
Why Las Vegas?
Vegas has become the league’s unofficial 31st city, with its annual Summer League growing over the past decade into the NBA’s version of Comic-Con, a massive event that brings hundreds of thousands of fans each July. And, for the first three years of its existence, Vegas hosted the championship round of the Emirates NBA Cup.
Las Vegas has exploded in popularity from a sports standpoint in recent years, with the Raiders arriving from Oakland in 2020, the Aces coming from San Antonio in 2018, the Golden Knights entering the NHL as an expansion team in 2017 and MLB’s Athletics eventually coming from Oakland (via Sacramento).
Could other cities try to get a team?
Several cities have received some attention as being possibilities, from international locations such as Mexico City, Vancouver and Montreal to American cities such as Kansas City, Louisville and Nashville. Maybe in the future a European division could be possible, but not before significant changes in air travel make it more feasible. None, however, were ever likely to leapfrog Vegas or Seattle.
Would Seattle be the SuperSonics? Would it retain that franchise’s pre-2008 history?
In short: yes.
The deal between Thunder ownership and the city of Seattle resolving a lawsuit over the team’s arena lease and allowing its move to Oklahoma City stipulated that the name SuperSonics and all associated logos, colors and trademark would be transferred to the owner of a new NBA team approved to play at a renovated KeyArena at no cost.
That agreement laid out the terms of shared ownership of Sonics history, including the team’s 1979 championship trophy and retired jerseys. Officially, the NBA combines the history of both teams. For example, the league recognizes Hall of Famer Gary Payton as Oklahoma City’s all-time leader in games played.
The Thunder, however, do not hang any banners for the SuperSonics in Oklahoma City, and in their media guide they don’t highlight any Seattle stats — listing, for example, Russell Westbrook as the team’s all-time assists leader, rather than Payton.
Sources said if a team was to return to Seattle, the Thunder would cede the Seattle history back to the SuperSonics — just as the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets reclaimed the Charlotte-era history of the New Orleans Pelicans when Charlotte regained the Hornets name in 2014.
If two teams are added in the West, what will happen to the conferences?
Seattle and Las Vegas would both land in the West, necessitating one franchise shifting from West to East to rebalance the 17-15 split.
The decision would likely be between three teams: the Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans and Memphis Grizzlies. Geographically, New Orleans and Memphis are the Eastern-most teams in the Western Conference but are short flights from several West opponents (each other, all three Texas teams and the Thunder).
Minnesota is farther west but far more geographically isolated. The Timberwolves’ closest West opponent, the Denver Nuggets, are 680 miles away. Six East cities (Milwaukee, Chicago, Indianapolis, Detroit, Cleveland and Toronto) are within that range.
It would likely be a protracted fight to determine who would move East, but those facts would seem to make Minnesota the most logical choice.
What impact could expansion have on NBA playoffs and NBA Cup formats?
As far as the playoffs go, bumping up to 32 teams shouldn’t change anything at all. Ten teams would qualify for the postseason, six directly and four into the play-in tournament. Six teams, rather than five now, would go directly to the draft lottery.
Going up to 32 teams, however, would potentially result in positive changes for the NBA Cup. Currently, the league splits the tournament’s group stage into six groups of five — meaning it can’t have every team play on the final day of group play, because there are odd numbers of teams in each group.
A 32-team pool would allow the NBA to mirror the 32-team FIFA World Cup format: eight groups of four teams, each of which would play each other once. Then, the NBA could either have 16 teams advance to the knockout portion of the tournament, taking the top two teams from each group (like the World Cup does), or it could have each group winner advance and have the same knockout stage format it does now.
Will there be rule changes from previous expansions?
The NBA is expected to take a close look at the entire process of expansion — for example how an expansion draft would work to restrictions teams would have on spending in their initial years of existence to what the rules governing their draft picks would be — before a formal vote to expand would take place.
The league will be balancing both not making it so difficult on the incoming teams that they have no chance to compete for years, but also not giving them a giant leg up on their competition by walking in with a clean slate to start working from. There will be robust discussions over the next few months about what all this will look like.
How could the expansion draft work?
During the 2004 expansion that brought in the Charlotte Bobcats (now Hornets), existing NBA teams were allowed to protect up to eight players under contract for the next season from being selected.
Past expansion draft rules required that a team had to leave at least one player unprotected, even if the team had fewer than eight players under contract heading into the offseason. Those with options to become a free agent count toward that total, and, if selected, the player’s former team would receive a trade exception in the amount of that player’s 2028-29 salary.
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Teams were also allowed to protect players who could become restricted free agents, but past expansion draft rules did not transfer RFA status to the expansion team. The drafting team would be at risk of losing a player for nothing. (However, the player would not be allowed to re-sign with his original team.)
In past expansion drafts, teams were allowed to select only one player from each existing NBA franchise.
There were no two-way players in 2004, so the league will need to determine if they can be protected in a future expansion draft. Every two-way player whose contract is up normally becomes a restricted free agent.
One thing to point out is that the NBA and NBPA would be operating under the current collective bargaining agreement, which runs through the 2029-30 season. There is a provision however that allows either side the option to terminate the CBA on June 30, 2029, if there is notice given on or before Oct. 15, 2028.
What can be learned from previous expansion drafts?
In 1995, the Toronto Raptors and Vancouver Grizzlies alternated picks until they selected one player from each of the other 27 existing NBA franchises.
The two teams had a coin toss to determine which would select first. The Grizzlies won the toss but chose to defer, giving them the second pick in the expansion draft. Because of that, the Grizzlies got to choose higher than the Raptors in the 1995 NBA draft.
The Raptors finished the expansion draft with 14 players and Grizzlies selected 13.
In 2004, Charlotte could have selected 29 players (one from each team) in the expansion draft but chose 19. The Charlotte front office took an approach in 2004 of selecting players who were restricted free agents. Out of the 19 players Charlotte selected (a minimum 14 was required), nine were restricted free agents. The only one of those nine who re-signed with Charlotte was Tamar Slay.
The standard roster rules during the regular season and offseason will likely apply: A team can carry up to 21 players in the offseason and 18 (including three on two-way contracts) once the regular season begins.
How do expansion teams factor into the leaguewide draft?
The NBA has slotted each expansion team in the first round, with Vancouver selecting sixth and Toronto seventh in 1995 and Charlotte picking fourth in 2004. In that draft, the Bobcats traded up with the Los Angeles Clippers to get the second overall pick (Emeka Okafor).
None of the recent expansion teams have been eligible for the No. 1 pick in their first year. When the Raptors and Grizzlies entered the league, they were also ineligible for the No. 1 pick in their second season. The Raptors won the draft lottery in 1996, but were unable to pick first, so the No. 1 pick went to the Philadelphia 76ers (who drafted Allen Iverson).
How could the salary cap work for expansion teams?
Each expansion team has to work within a reduced salary cap for its first two seasons. In July 2004, the Bobcats had $17.6 million in player salaries and were $11.8 million below the $29.4 million salary cap at the start of free agency.
If an expansion team was entering the league for the 2028-29 season, using that 66.6% figure, that team would be working with a salary cap of $121.9 million, compared with a projected $183 million cap for the league’s 30 existing franchises. The team would have 80% of the salary cap available the following season, and the full cap available for Year 3.
An expansion team would be required to spend 90% of its lower $121.9 million salary cap by the first day of the regular season to reach the league-mandated salary floor. Teams can select a player in the expansion draft and then waive him without his salary counting against the cap, with that money still applying to the salary floor.
2026 NBA mock draft: Who’s rising and falling ahead of March Madness?
Jeremy WooMar 11, 2026, 11:00 AM
ShareLikeOpen Extended Reactions2.5K
Whether you’ve followed this 2026 NBA draft class all season or are just tuning in for March Madness, it bears repeating: This is shaping up to be an exceptionally talented draft class.
Within the NBA, conversations around tanking and the league’s efforts to combat it continue — and the strength of this draft has certainly played a role in the unusually high number of teams currently tumbling down the standings. There remains a broad expectation that many quality prospects will return to college next season, primarily among players not entrenched in the first round, as NIL payments shift financial incentives. This mock serves to project what the draft might look like if NBA teams selected today. These projections are not a ranking of the top prospects — for that, consult ESPN’s top 100.
They are informed by ongoing conversations with NBA executives and scouts, as well as my own evaluation process from time spent on the road at games and watching film.
With conference tournaments getting underway and a prospect-heavy NCAA tournament one week out, here are our latest projections looking ahead to the 2026 draft.
The draft order was formulated using ESPN’s BPI projections as of March 8.
Darryn Peterson, PG/SG, Kansas Freshman 2025-26 stats: 19.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists in 20 games
Much has been discussed about Peterson and his candidacy for No. 1 over the course of a tumultuous season. His issues with cramping and inconsistent play have heightened the perceived risk around taking him first, but he remains the most gifted offensive player in the draft. NBA teams have varying levels of concern but won’t have complete information around his long-term health or other intangibles until later in the process.
The battle for No. 1 is close enough between Peterson and AJ Dybantsa to the point where league sources broadly view this as a matter of which team ultimately makes the pick. Cameron Boozer’s dominant season has also kept him in the debate.
It’s important to keep in mind how strongly many evaluators felt about Peterson coming into the season, particularly scouts who saw him play in high school. Although his role at Kansas has largely moved him off the ball, there remains optimism around his playmaking and ability to operate as a lead ball handler. It’s hard to see Peterson falling out of the top three, and he looked much healthier over the weekend against Kansas State. A big postseason run could help him change the narrative around his season.
Sacramento, in search of a new face of the franchise, has quite a bit riding on this lottery. With five rotation players currently injured, they feel like a safe bet for top-three odds.
AJ Dybantsa, SF, BYU Freshman 2025-26 stats: 24.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists in 31 games
A huge NBA contingent was present at the Big 12 tournament in Kansas City on Tuesday to see Dybantsa and BYU take on Kansas State, with decision-makers from the majority of lottery teams in attendance. Dybantsa did his part, scoring 40 points nearly every which way on 15-of-21 shooting, in a 105-91 Cougars win. He’ll have another big stage Wednesday night against West Virginia, with Houston awaiting if he can engineer another win.
The Big 12’s Freshman of the Year has done his part to make the No. 1 race interesting, currently leading the NCAA in scoring while also showing growth as a decision-maker. He was playing his best basketball of the season before teammate Richie Saunders tore his ACL on Feb. 14, an injury that sent BYU on a late-season backslide. In what has become a real debate for the No. 1 pick, some around the NBA have come to view Dybantsa as a safer option than Peterson. He’s not as gifted a ball handler or shooter but might have more untapped upside from a physical and skill perspective, as well as on the defensive end.
The Wizards keep this pick (otherwise owed to the New York Knicks) if it falls inside the top eight. Trae Young made his debut last week and Anthony Davis‘ return remains unclear, but this could be Washington’s last dip into the high lottery for a while.
Cameron Boozer, PF/C, Duke Freshman 2025-26 stats: 22.7 points, 10.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists in 31 games
Boozer, the ACC Player and Rookie of the Year, has made a loud argument for himself as the best player in college basketball and would provide excellent value if he falls to No. 3.
He’s having a historically productive season operating as the fulcrum of a Duke team with title aspirations. He excels in nearly every offensive area. But his average explosiveness, coupled with slower defensive ground coverage, has raised questions about his ceiling.
Some scouts wonder whether he can be the best player on a championship-level NBA team, or whether he’s optimally cast as a secondary star.
Indiana’s deadline trade for Ivica Zubac raises the stakes around next season and this selection, as they’ll convey it to the LA Clippers if it falls in the 5-9 range. Adding Boozer to the mix with a healthy Tyrese Haliburton could kick-start the Pacers on another playoff push.
The Boozer twins: Making their own legacy
Rece Davis sits down with fraternal twins Cameron and Cayden Boozer to find out how they are forging their own paths at Duke.
Caleb Wilson, PF/C, North Carolina Freshman 2025-26 stats: 19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists in 24 games
Wilson opted to have surgery after breaking his thumb last week in practice, ending his season and depriving him of an opportunity to play in the NCAA tournament.
A first-team All-ACC selection, he has done enough to sit safely among the top picks even without taking the court again, showcasing his ability to play above the rim and two-way upside at power forward. Evaluators are curious how much more he can develop his 3-point shooting (25.9%) and ball skills, but Wilson plays exceptionally hard, having compiled 11 double-doubles and setting himself apart as an elite prospect. NBA teams have penciled him in as a top-four selection.
Brooklyn has built patiently, holding onto Michael Porter Jr. and Nic Claxton at the trade deadline and will be hoping to add star power to the youngest roster in the NBA, no matter where this pick falls.
How far can UNC go without Caleb Wilson?
Jay Williams and Jay Bilas discuss UNC’s chances to make a deep run in the NCAA tournament without Caleb Wilson.
Kingston Flemings, PG, Houston Freshman 2025-26 stats: 16.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 5.4 assists in 31 games
With a strong tier of backcourt players penciled in through the middle of the lottery, and front offices valuing them all differently, there’s real ground to gain for these players over the next couple of weeks.
Flemings is the most explosive guard in the draft, with his downhill style and budding playmaking ability keeping him high on team boards. Evaluators share some concern about his shooting mechanics, but he has achieved results (84% at the line, 37.6% from 3) and has been on an upward trajectory with his jumper over the past year.
Houston will ultimately go as far as the first-team All-Big 12 selection can carry it in March, beginning Thursday in the conference tournament.
The Jazz need this pick to land in the top eight, or will otherwise convey it to Oklahoma City. Utah beefed up its frontcourt with Jaren Jackson Jr. at the trade deadline and is a team that should be looking hard at guard options ahead of a pivot toward playoff contention next season.
Keaton Wagler, PG/SG, Illinois Freshman 2025-26 stats: 17.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.3 assists in 31 games
Wagler’s unexpected rise from off-the-radar recruit to Big Ten Freshman of the Year has given him a chance to be the second guard off the board. His positional size — 6-foot-6 — 3-point shooting (41%) and impeccable playmaking give him developmental upside.
Continuing to gain strength to better navigate in the paint and becoming a better defender are long-term keys as well. He is the least dynamic athlete of the guards in this group, but the blueprint is there for him to become an NBA backcourt fixture.
Atlanta will be in search of a long-term point guard after moving on from Trae Young, and can address that in this draft, even if its pick doesn’t land in the top four.
Darius Acuff Jr., PG, Arkansas Freshman 2025-26 stats: 22.2 points, 3.0 rebounds, 6.4 assists in 30 games
Acuff was named SEC Player of the Year after a stellar season that solidified him as a lottery pick. His ability to navigate tight spaces on the court, create his own offense and find teammates has been a major separator.
NBA teams have concerns about his defense, but it’s hard to deny Acuff’s ability to manufacture points. There’s variance of opinion on how he stacks up long term against his peers, but Acuff is the most NBA-ready of the four guards.
Dallas is another potential point guard landing spot, with Kyrie Irving now 33 and the Mavs building around the rising Cooper Flagg. Finding a long-term starter at the position would be a coup for their future.
Darius Acuff Jr. explains No. 20 Arkansas’ determination to avenge loss
Acuff Jr. discusses the mindset in the win over Texas as they bounced back from a gruesome loss to Florida, describing the electric offense and chemistry between the Razorbacks.
Mikel Brown Jr., PG, Louisville Freshman 2025-26 stats: 18.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists in 21 games
Brown was officially ruled out for the ACC tournament Tuesday as he continues to deal with back issues that have plagued him for much of the season. An NCAA tournament return hasn’t been ruled out, but this has become a situation NBA teams want to learn more about when he completes his medical test at the combine in May.
Although he’s shooting just 41% from the field this season, scouts feel comfortable with his history and that his dynamic perimeter shot-creation (34% from 3) remains a strong attribute. The ups and downs of his season haven’t helped his draft profile, though. But he fared better after returning from injury in February. Brown still projects somewhere inside the top 10, with evaluators remaining bullish on his upside as a tall (6-5) backcourt playmaker.
Memphis traded Jaren Jackson Jr. at the deadline as it continues to retool largely through the draft. The Grizzlies should be in best-available mode, with Ja Morant’s long-term future uncertain.
Nate Ament, SF/PF, Tennessee Freshman 2025-26 stats: 17.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists in 29 games
Ament injured his right leg against Alabama on Feb. 28 and hasn’t played since, but he returned to basketball activities this week. His status is unclear going into Tennessee’s SEC tournament game on Thursday.
He turned his season around in conference play after a slow start, averaging 19 points in 16 league games and reminding teams why he was so highly rated coming into the season. He has at times left evaluators wanting more, but checks valuable size and skill boxes that should make him a long-term NBA fixture. Whether Ament can take a star leap hinges on the evolution of his shot-creation skills.
The Bulls cleared out their roster at the trade deadline and should be in a best-available mindset moving forward, with a clear need for more perimeter shooting.
Brayden Burries, SG, Arizona Freshman 2025-26 stats: 16.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists in 31 games
Burries has been a major riser since the start of the calendar year, turning around a poor start to the season and earning first-team All-Big 12 honors on an Arizona team that rolled through the conference schedule. He has been effective on and off the ball, a capable screen operator who can also catch and shoot (37% from 3), giving him a good base to build on as a long-term backcourt fixture. While a year older than many of his freshman classmates and slightly undersized for a two-guard at 6-4, he’s gaining steam as a late-lottery name, adding yet another freshman to this mix.
It’s been unclear to rival teams which direction the Bucks are going, with Giannis Antetokounmpo returning to the floor this month with a potential offseason trade still up in the air. If Milwaukee plans to keep him, it could make sense to target a more NBA-ready player with this pick (the worse of its own and Atlanta’s). Still, Giannis’s in-season comeback might ultimately harm the Bucks’ chances of better draft odds.
Brayden Burries drills 3-pointer vs. Colorado Buffaloes
Brayden Burries drills 3-pointer vs. Colorado Buffaloes
While this came in a losing context, NBA teams are optimistic about his mix of size, skill and toughness, keeping him in the late-lottery mix going into the predraft process. Scouts feel he needs to make strides as a shooter, improve defensively and maximize his frame to ultimately stick as a stretch 4, which is his most natural position long term.
Portland appears entrenched in a play-in spot and will convey this pick to Chicago if it sneaks into the playoffs.
Brian WindhorstMar 19, 2026, 11:00 AM
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Jeremy WooMar 11, 2026, 11:00 AM
