After a long wait, LeBron James finally made his long-anticipated return to the court this week against against the Utah Jazz, followed by Paul George against the Bucks. But while these two decorated stars are back, several others remain notably absent. Some are All-Stars with uncertain timetables. Others are key starters working through rehab, and a handful of role players are simply waiting for the green light to suit up. Whether sidelined by injury, conditioning setbacks,

We’re only a month into the NBA season, but the league has wasted zero time reminding us how quickly narratives can flip. Supposed bottom-feeders are making noise. Dark-horse teams are looking like the real deal. And a handful of recent championship hopefuls are searching for answers as injuries and inconsistency drag them down. The season is just beginning, but the last four weeks have given us a clear picture still—so here’s how all 30 teams stack up right now. Indiana Pace

NCAA basketball tips off soon, and each year a new crop of college hoopers rise from relative obscurity to national buzz: this season’s class is no different. These kids aren’t just playing for campus buzz or clout—they’re hungry and coming for the NBA. With confidence, skill, and pro-level talent, these prospects have shown flashes of greatness at the high school level and could shake up the 2026 draft and beyond. If you haven’t tapped into their play yet, it’s time. They me

Credit: Jesse Johnson/ImagnImages Five years later, hindsight paints a very different picture. The 2020 NBA Draft was filled with promise, question marks, and bold predictions, but the careers that followed have rewritten expectations entirely. Some prospects soared far beyond their draft slot, others never found their footing, and some lottery picks are out of the league entirely. That’s the beauty and the heartache of the game. But in a world where do-overs are possible, l

By Joel Piton · 10/17/25 · Sportz Nation Credit: Sarah Stier/GettyImages - Celtics G Derrick White (#9) attacks the basket defended by Cleveland Cav's G Craig Porter Jr. (#9) With the NBA preseason officially in the rearview, the countdown is over—in just one day, regular season Celtics basketball returns. That also means the hunt for banner 19 begins in earnest. Yet, the journey won’t be straightforward. The franchise player is injured—fresh off last year’s postseason—and d

With the NBA regular season set to tip off, it’s the perfect time to evaluate who the starting big is for all thirty teams. Formerly defined strictly by size and rim protection, today’s big men are as skilled as ever, so without a doubt, versatility comes largely into play when it comes to these rankings. From pure defensive anchors to floor-spacing shooters, every team relies on its starting center in a different way. Here we're predicting who will be the most effective whe

by Joel Piton 10/7/2025   Sportz Nation The NBA is a guard-driven league, and no position dictates the tempo of a game more than the...