Heavy Sports • 20th June 2025

Pacers Bench Stars Make NBA Finals History

The Indiana Pacers have forced the first Game 7 of the NBA Finals in nine years. After their Game 6 win against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Pacers bench players T.J. McConnell and Obi Toppin have etched themselves in NBA Finals lore.For McConnell, he comes the first bench player to have 60+ points, 25+ assists, and 15+ rebounds in a Finals series. Toppin joins seven-time champion Robert Horry as the only other bench player to have 70+ points, 30+ rebounds, and 12+ three-pointers in a title series...

Heavy Sports • 19th June 2025

Orlando Magic Get High Praise From $197 Million Shooter

In the first major NBA trade of the summer, the Orlando Magic made an all-in move to acquire Desmond Bane from the Memphis Grizzlies. In return for the career 41% three-point shooter, Orlando sent back Cole Anthony, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and four first-round picks.Bane averaged 19.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.2 steals in 69 regular season games. He will be a key addition to a Magic team that had the third-lowest points per game in the league.“I’m super excited to be here,” Bane...

Heavy Sports • 19th June 2025

Insider Gives Major Update On Pacers' Star In NBA Finals

In the first quarter of their Game 5 loss of the NBA Finals, Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton suffered a right calf strain. While Indiana has not yet confirmed the news, ESPN’s Shams Charania said that Haliburton ‘has every intention’ of suiting up for Game 6.“He’s fully intending on being out there tonight. He is going to gut it out,” Charania said on the Pat McAfee Show. “He’s definitely got to be careful. But as long as he can get out there, I would expect Tyrese Haliburton to play tonig...

Heavy Sports • 19th June 2025

Rockets Make Bold Decision Amidst Kevin Durant Trade Rumors

The Houston Rockets have agreed to a long-term contract extension with head coach Ime Udoka, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. The deal will reportedly make Udoka one of the highest-paid coaches in the NBA.“This is an eight-figure deal annually, I’m told,” Charania said. “This is a team currently on the rise, with some good young players.”The extension comes shortly after Kevin Durant named the Rockets as a preferred destination, with the Phoenix Suns expected to trade the star in the near fut...

Heavy Sports • 18th June 2025

LeBron James Sparks Debate With 'Ring Culture' Comments

For 20 years, LeBron James has been the face of the NBA. James has won four championships, most recently with the Los Angeles Lakers, and holds the title of the  NBA’s all-time leading scorer. While he has firmly established his status as one of the greatest players in basketball history, James’ recent comments on the NBA’s ‘ring culture’ have sparked some backlash.On the latest episode of his Mind The Game podcast with former MVP Steve Nash, James questioned why people view winning championship...

Heavy Sports • 18th June 2025

Lakers Set To Be Sold At Historic $10 Billion Valuation: Report

After the single-most winning run by a sports ownership group, the Buss family is reportedly selling the majority share of the Los Angeles Lakers, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. With a valuation of $10 billion, it will be the biggest sale in American sports history.Mark Walter, CEO of TWD Global, will purchase their share of the team for the historic amount.  The Buss family will retain a small stake in the team, and current Lakers governor Jeanie Buss will remain in her role going forward....

Heavy Sports • 17th June 2025

Thunder Duo Join Multiple Elite Lists After Game 5 Finals Win

The duo of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams etched themselves onto an elite playoff scoring list in the Oklahoma City Thunder‘s Game 5 win in the 2025 NBA Finals. With a combined 71 points, they now rank fourth in scoring amongst two teammates through the first five games of a Finals series.Their 291 total points rank behind the duos of Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry scoring 310 in 2017, LeBron James and Kyrie Irving going for 315 in the same year, and Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen...

Heavy Sports • 17th June 2025

Pacers Make Bold Trade After NBA Finals Loss

Following their loss in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, the Indiana Pacers made a trade to reacquire their 2026 first-round pick from the New Orleans Pelicans.According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Pacers traded away the 23rd overall pick in the upcoming 2025 NBA Draft in the deal. They also sent back the rights to Mojave King in exchange for their first-round pick for next year.New Orleans now has the seventh and 23rd picks in next week’s draft, one of six teams with multiple first-round selections....

Heavy Sports • 17th June 2025

Lakers' Star Guard Speaks On Offseason Trade Rumors

The Los Angeles Lakers are using this NBA offseason to add pieces around their two superstars, LeBron James and Luka Doncic. Caught in the middle of constant trade rumors over the past few weeks is Lakers’ guard Austin Reaves.At his basketball summer camp, Reaves spoke on the Lakers’ offseason. While he said that he doesn’t listen to rumors and reports surrounding his name, the 27-year-old reiterated that he hoped to be with the Lakers his entire career.“I want to be in L.A.,” Reaves said in an...

Heavy Sports • 16th June 2025

Pacers Coach Issues Strong Statement on Controversial NBA Ref

Ahead of Game 5 of the 2025 NBA Finals, Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle came to the defense of referee Scott Foster. In his June 15 press conference on Sunday, Carlisle pushed back on the criticism of Foster’s officiating in Game 4 two days earlier.“It’s awful what some of the things I’ve seen about the officiating and Scott Foster in particular,” Carlisle said. “He’s a great official; he’s done a great job in this playoffs.”Foster, a 30-year officiating veteran with a controversial past...

Heavy Sports • 16th June 2025

Antetokounmpo Responds To Stephen A's 'Underachiever' Tag

Through his first 12 seasons on the Milwaukee Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo has cemented himself as one of the greatest basketball players of this generation. In 2021, he led the franchise to their second-ever title and unanimously won the Finals MVP award.Last Friday, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith said on First Take that Antetokounmpo has ‘underachieved’ if he doesn’t win another title. He said that even with Antetokounmpo’s skill on the court, his one ring doesn’t line up with his regular-season perf...

Heavy Sports • 13th June 2025

Nuggets' Guard Makes Bold Decision To Enter Free Agency

After one year with the Denver Nuggets, point guard Russell Westbrook has declined his player option for next season, according to NBA insider Marc Stein. The former NBA MVP signed a two-year deal worth $6.8 million with the Nuggets last summer, but he will now enter free agency.Westbrook came off the bench in more than half of Denver’s regular season games, averaging 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 1.4 steals on 44.9% shooting. His slights dropped in the Nuggets’ 13 postseason games...

Heavy Sports • 12th June 2025

Pacers Players Make NBA Finals History After Game 3 Win

In their first championship-series home game in 25 years, the Indiana Pacers ended victorious against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 3 of the 2025 NBA Finals. While star players Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam each hit their marks, it was the bench efforts of both Benedict Mathurin and T.J. McConnell that helped Indiana grab the 2-1 series lead.Mathurin scored a game-high 27 points on an efficient 9/12 shooting from the field. McConnell finished the night with 10 points, five assists, and...

Heavy Sports • 12th June 2025

Warriors' Guard Has Another Offseason Setback

Before the Golden State Warriors can reshape their roster this offseason, the team is dealing with another setback from one of their promising young players.The team announced on Wednesday night that guard Brandin Podziemski underwent surgery on a core muscle. It was the 22-year-old’s second surgery of the offseason, as just weeks ago Podziemski had a procedure to repair a left wrist injury.“He is expected to make a full recovery and be ready for the start of training camp,” the Warriors wrote i...

Heavy Sports • 11th June 2025

New Suns Coach Speaks on Leading Underperforming Team

After missing the playoffs with the highest payroll in the NBA, the Phoenix Suns hired Jordan Ott as head coach in replacement of Mike Budenholzer. The team has now had four different coaches in the past four seasons.In his introductory press conference, Ott addressed the challenge of leading a team that has underperformed in recent years. Phoenix also has a looming decision to make on Kevin Durant, who, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, is expected to be traded sometime soon.“We’re all aware...

Heavy Sports • 11th June 2025

Former LeBron James Teammate Sounds Off On Recent Criticism

The NBA’s all-time leading points scorer and superstar of the Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron James, has been under recent scrutiny with fans saying that he has ‘no bag’.In a recent appearance on the Dan Patrick Show, James’ former teammate, Ray Allen, responded to a question regarding the criticism the four-time champion has received. While Allen stated that James didn’t have a ‘go-to move,’ he also said that James has never needed just one signature play.“LeBron has always been an unstoppable, unde...

Da Windy City • 10th June 2025

Bulls Must Find a Versatile Defender at the NBA Draft

For the Chicago Bulls in the 2025 NBA Draft, their only focus should be on defense. Whether it is finding a much-needed lockdown perimeter player or a defensive-minded replacement for center Nikola Vucevic, the team has multiple directions it can take. Yes, Cooper Flagg would no doubt be the perfect solution for all of Chicago's problems, but that just won't happen. The team has a shaky draft history, so they need to do their homework and find a player who has shown defensive potential and can g...

Heavy Sports • 10th June 2025

Thunder Star Joins Michael Jordan on Exclusive List

Following his 34-point performance in the Oklahoma City Thunder‘s Game 2 win in the NBA Finals, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander cemented his 2024-25 campaign as one of the best ever.Gilgeous-Alexander now becomes one of just 12 players in NBA history to score 3,000 total points in a season. The accomplishment has happened a total of 25 times in the league’s 78 seasons, with each non-active player on the list currently in the Hall of Fame. The milestone encompasses both regular season and playoff scoring...

Heavy Sports • 9th June 2025

Legendary Mavericks Coach 'In Protest' of Doncic Trade

Former Dallas Mavericks head coach and basketball Hall-of-Famer Don Nelson made his stance clear on the team trading Luka Doncic.Speaking in Oklahoma City after receiving the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award, Nelson criticized his former team for trading their star player. He wore Doncic’s Jordan brand sneakers during the press conference, stating it was ‘in protest’ of the move sending the 26-year-old to the Los Angeles Lakers. “As a matter of fact, I want everybody to know I’m wearing Luk...

Da Windy City • 8th June 2025

Energetic Big Man Should Be Bulls' First Call When Free Agency Begins

The Chicago Bulls need all the depth they can get as they prepare for next year. The upcoming offseason could be pivotal, and taking advantage of the free agent market will be crucial in constructing a roster that complements their young talent. One player stands out above the rest as a perfect fit for the Bulls as an unrestricted free agent. That name is Precious Achiuwa, who was drafted by Miami in 2020 but spent the last two seasons with the New York Knicks. At 6-foot-8, the big man would be...

Heavy Sports • 8th June 2025

Mavericks Send Message Ahead of 2025 NBA Draft

Landing the coveted first overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Dallas Mavericks have made their plans clear. The team is set to hold a workout for top prospect and former Duke Blue Devil, Cooper Flagg, on June 17.Flagg, the projected number one pick, is expected to go to Dallas after they won the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery with just a 1.8% chance at landing the top spot. After weeks of speculation involving the pick, the planned workout all but confirms Flagg will play with the Mavericks next sea...

Heavy Sports • 6th June 2025

NBA Commissioner Addresses Potential League Expansion

Prior to Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals, commissioner Adam Silver held a press conference to address multiple topics surrounding the league. One of which was the issue of expansion, and the possibility of new teams entering the NBA in the near future.Silver said that he would ‘take the temperature of the room’ at the upcoming board of governors meeting in Las Vegas, according to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps.“There’s been no lack of interest,” Silver said on Thursday. “So if we were to say yes, we’re now g...

Heavy Sports • 5th June 2025

'Historic' Contract Offer Made to Former MVP: Report

With the Denver Nuggets‘ season ended in the second round of the NBA Playoffs, they now face a critical offseason in shaping the future of their team. Included in that is the player option for former MVP Russell Westbrook.However, prior to the beginning of the NBA offseason, Westbrook was reportedly offered a ‘historic’ contract from an overseas team that sees him as a valuable addition.According to European basketball reporter Nemanja Zoric, EuroLeague’s Hapoel Tel Aviv is set to offer Westbroo...

Heavy Sports • 5th June 2025

Cooper Flagg Praised 'As Advertised' By 12-Time All-Star

Holding the first overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Dallas Mavericks are in line to select Cooper Flagg. The 18-year-old out of Duke University has been the consensus top draft prospect, and will likely join the team that sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis.Speaking on ‘The Pat McAfee Show’, 12-time NBA All-Star Chris Paul praised Flagg. Paul said that he has spent time with the potential number-one pick and that he is ‘as advertised.’“I’m in LA right now and Coope...