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

By Joel Piton · 10/17/25 · Sportz Nation The NBA season is set to tip off in just five days, and yet it doesn’t feel real that some of the league’s most familiar names won’t be on the court. Annually, a handful of veterans and role players linger on the market, but this season’s list still feels jarring. With preseason and training camps wrapping up and rotations taking shape, the reality is setting in: it's time to start picturing a season without these players in uniform. T

NBA fans rejoice! The back and forth turmoil is finally over. After a long and confusing offseason, reports have stated that Russell Westbrook has signed the dotted line on a one-year, $3.6 million veteran’s minimum deal with the Sacramento Kings. Entering his eighteenth season and joining his seventh NBA franchise, Westbrook brings energy, motor and experience to a team none of us would have guessed. What does this move mean for the Kings? Credit: Sarah Stier/GettyImages A n

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 10/10/25 Sportz Nation This offseason, the headlines were dominated by blockbuster trades and superstar free-agent signings. But just as often, it’s the quieter moves—the under-the-radar pickups, the veterans brought in on short-term contracts—that end up making all the difference. While the big names draw all the attention, it’s these underrated additions that can raise a team’s ceiling and shift the balance of a season. We’re already seeing signs of that in th

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...

by Zak Drapeau and Joel Piton 10/5/2025 Sportz Nation Jayson Tatum, Isaiah "King of the Fourth" Thomas, Paul "The Truth" Pierce, KG—the...

by Joel Piton 10/3/2025 Sportz Nation It’s tempting to believe that last year’s award winners will simply run it back and defend their...

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The 2024–25 season was all Shai all the time. Despite yet another historic performance by Nikola Jokic—Shai's single-season campaign was...

Every draft class begins with around 60 players and endless opportunity. About 40% of picks fade out after a few years. But a select few...