Sports News Daily

(Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)   The NBA’s most prestigious individual honor is approaching its dramatic conclusion as the 2024-25 regular season enters its final stretch. Across arenas nationwide, superstars are making their final statements in what has become one of the most compelling MVP races in recent memory. While NBA.com’s MVP ladder currently shows Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with a slight edge, three-time winner Nikola Jokic remains firmly in the conversation. But according to recent betting odds, the race might not be as close as basketball purists believe. “SGA is the heavy favorite to win his first league MVP with 2 weeks left in the season ” Yahoo Sports shared, pointing to BetMGM’s latest figures. SGA is the heavy favorite to win his first league MVP with 2 weeks left in the season pic.twitter.com/EKfHa97mTh — Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) March 31, 2025 The Oklahoma City Thunder guard has crafted a season worthy of basketball’s highest individual ho...

(Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)   Jalen Green put on a clinic on Sunday, helping his Houston Rockets destroy the Phoenix Suns 148-109. Green posted a massive 33 points against the Suns, another amazing showing from the young star. According to StatMuse, Green is now the eighth player in Rockets history with 50 30-point games. How many more can he achieve this year, and will he be this productive in the playoffs? Jalen Green is the eighth player in Rockets history with fifty 30-point games. pic.twitter.com/fYYtf6pnu3 — StatMuse (@statmuse) March 31, 2025 Green is averaging 21.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game, shooting a strong 42.6 percent from the field. The Rockets are a team full of many great young players, but Green may be the best. Houston has had a promising season, but now their real challenge is waiting for them. The postseason will be when they prove what they are truly capable of. They are currently the second seed in the West, which mea...

(Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)   Mike Budenholzer has been the head coach of the Phoenix Suns for less than a season. But if the playoffs do not go well, he could be out of a job. According to Evan Sidery, “there is a growing sentiment around the NBA that Mike Budenholzer’s job security with the Suns is very much in danger.” “If Phoenix indeed ends up firing Budenholzer in a few weeks, it would Mat Ishbia’s fourth head coach since becoming owner in 2023,” Sidery wrote. There is a growing sentiment around the NBA that Mike Budenholzer’s job security with the Suns is very much in danger. If Phoenix indeed ends up firing Budenholzer in a few weeks, it would Mat Ishbia’s fourth head coach since becoming owner in 2023. pic.twitter.com/5EgRLSqNWV — Evan Sidery (@esidery) March 31, 2025 This season has not gone as planned for the Suns. This was supposed to be the year when they finally capitalized on the big three of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal. Ins...

(Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)   The firing of Taylor Jenkins may have been surprising, but many reports say it was a long time coming. The Memphis Grizzlies had plenty of reasons to be disappointed with their head coach, and they needed a change. More changes could be coming soon, especially if the Grizzlies fall apart in the playoffs. Speaking on “Get Up,” via NBACentral, Kendrick Perkins said he thinks Ja Morant could be leaving the Grizzlies. Kendrick Perkins thinks Ja Morant’s future in Memphis is murky and that he’s auditioning for a new team ( @GetUpESPN ) pic.twitter.com/55RdVGZug4 — NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) March 31, 2025 As noted by the show, the Luka Doncic trade highlights the fact that any NBA player could be traded at any time. No one is really safe in this league, especially if a team is struggling. The Grizzlies are the fifth team in the West, which is obviously admirable, but they seem to always have a tough time in the postseason. If ...

(Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)   The Memphis Grizzlies parted ways with Taylor Jenkins on Friday and now there are many questions about the future of the team. One of the biggest, of course, is who will be the head coach next season. There are many names floating around as a potential replacement for Jenkins in 2025-26, but one sits above the rest. According to Bovada, per NBACentral, interim head coach Tuomas Iisalo has +150 odds to be in the position next year. He is followed by Jeff Van Gundy with +400, James Borrego with +450, Micah Nori with +500, and Mitch Johnson with +700. Darvin Ham, Rick Pitino, Nate McMillan, and others are also on the list. Odds on who will be the Grizzlies’ head coach next season: Tuomas Lisalo +150 Jeff Van Gundy +400 James Borrego +450 Micah Nori +500 Sam Cassell +600 Mitch Johnson +700 Darvin Ham +1600 Rick Pitino +1600 Nate McMillan +1800 Dan Hurley +4000 Nick Nurse +5000 Mike Budenholzer… pic.twitter.com/Wm5oV412CK —...

(Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)   The NBA world was rocked on Friday when it was announced that longtime Memphis Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins had been fired. The team didn’t give much explanation for his firing, but clearly some negative things were going on behind the scenes. Now, a new report is shedding light on the state of the team. According to Sam Amick, Joe Vardon, and Fred Katz, per Legion Hoops, Ja Morant had “complained” about Jenkins’ new offensive scheme. “Some days he looks like he’s ready to play, and some days he looks like he doesn’t want to be there… because he hates the offense,” the report stated. REPORT: Ja Morant ‘complained’ about Taylor Jenkins’ new offensive scheme. “Some days he looks like he’s ready to play, and some days he looks like he doesn’t want to be there… because he hates the offense.” (via @sam_amick , @joevardon , @FredKatz ) pic.twitter.com/WHWT3wSeQo — Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) March 29, 2025 Because of their lack...

(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)   The Washington Wizards will not reach the playoffs this year. In fact, they hold the worst record in the Eastern Conference and won’t even come close to the Play-In Tournament. But Khris Middleton thinks it won’t always be this way. Speaking with Michael Scotto, per Legion Hoops, Middleton said he thinks the team will be a playoff contender next year. Big turnarounds have happened throughout NBA history, but is this one possible? https://twitter.com/LegionHoops/status/1905645042263593024 With a 16-57 record, the Wizards are almost the worst team in the entire NBA. If it weren’t for the New Orleans Pelicans and their 16-58 record, the Wizards would wear that unfortunate crown. If they are going to become a playoff team between now and next season, some major things would have to change. The lineup would probably be transformed, but it’s not clear which direction Washington will head in. Middleton is not new to the NBA, but he is ...

(Photo by Casey Sykes/Getty Images)   The Atlanta Hawks have been going through some changes this year, relying more on up-and-coming stars and relegating others to the bench. But the changes might not stop there, and the team could be busy this summer. According to Michael Scotto, big man Clint Capela is expected to leave the Hawks in free agency. “After being benched in favor of Onyeka Okongwu and dangled in trade talks before the deadline, the early expectation is Hawks center Clint Capela will sign elsewhere in unrestricted free agency this summer, league sources told HoopsHype,” Scotto wrote, per NBACentral. Clint Capela is expected to leave the Atlanta Hawks in free agency, per @MikeAScotto “After being benched in favor of Onyeka Okongwu and dangled in trade talks before the deadline, the early expectation is Hawks center Clint Capela will sign elsewhere in unrestricted free… pic.twitter.com/hJ5pdDGL9Y — NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) March 28, 2025 This has been...

(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)   Brian Windhorst is attempting to be a voice of reason in this current spat between LeBron James and the sports media. Windhorst was the subject of some scorching opinions from James, who said that the media has “gotten away from the essence of the sport of basketball.” He also said many other things and even had personal attacks against Windhorst himself. Speaking on “First Take,” Windhorst said that the media can sometimes be out of balance and the goal should be to restore it. He thinks that both players and press figures should work to discuss the drama of the NBA and the in-depth and essential fundamentals of the sport. He said that all sides should “hold each other accountable” and added that petty “finger-pointing” is not going to help anyone. "There's room to hold each other accountable. But the finger-pointing, I don't think that benefits anybody." @WindhorstESPN on LeBron James' recent comments. pic.twitt...

(Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)   LeBron James has been at the center of many conversations in sports media over the last few days. Of course, he is always a big subject for the press, but things have been different this week. James made public statements about the state of the media and sports analysts and complained about how the NBA is covered, saying the reporting has “gotten away from the essence of the sport of basketball.” On Thursday morning, Kendrick Perkins pushed back against James’ words. “LeBron James need to stop. He needs to stop. I’m so sick of him with this ‘Oh, how the league is covered’ because he wanted to be covered a certain way,” Perkins said, per NBACentral. Kendrick Perkins goes after LeBron James "LeBron James need to stop. He needs to stop. I’m so sick of him with this ‘oh how the league is covered’ because he wanted to be covered a certain way." (h/t @awfulannouncing ) pic.twitter.com/u8o2fxPloa — NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) Ma...

(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)   The Boston Celtics made it look easy on Wednesday night, even without their biggest star. The Celtics overpowered the Phoenix Suns and beat them 132-102, although they did it without Jayson Tatum, who was absent due to an injury. Speaking on “Hoops Tonight,” Jason Timpf said the Celtics put on a “drive and kick clinic” and showed their true identity in the win. They played a brand of basketball that is fast, relentless, and impossible to slow down. The Celtics are an absolute basketball machine pic.twitter.com/V9IlAr1OSA — Hoops Tonight (@hoopstonite) March 27, 2025 Timpf said the fact that the team thrived without Tatum is a big deal. It showed that they know who they are and they have a style that works no matter who is on the roster, as long as everyone buys in and sticks with it. Throughout the game, the Celtics expertly moved the ball quickly and with ease. They would whip around the court, leaving the Suns dumbfoun...

(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)   LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers once again found himself embroiled in controversy on Wednesday after stating that Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks could have scored 250 points on NBA opponents in the 1970s. This statement started a much bigger conversation about the past, present, and James’ place in league history. Speaking on ESPN, Stephen A. Smith jumped on James’ words and offered his opinion about why the Lakers star isn’t the greatest player of all time. He said icons like Michael Jordan would have stopped James as he ascended through the ranks of the league. In other words, he wouldn’t be the star he is today if he played back then, and that says a lot to Smith. “Nobody was gonna impede Kobe. Nobody was gonna impede MJ. Nobody was gonna impede Duncan … But him? I believe he would’ve been impeded—which is why I have Jordan,” Smith said, per NBACentral. Stephen A. says LeBron isn’t the GOAT because he let others ge...

(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)   Chris “Mad Dog” Russo lived up to his nickname on Wednesday morning. Russo passionately took issue with LeBron James’ statement that Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks would have scored 250 points a game if he played in the 1970s. A video shared by NBACentral on X featured Russo saying that Antetokounmpo “is not as good as Julius Erving” and claiming that he would have easily been taken down by vintage teams in the 70s. James was simply attempting to give a big compliment to his NBA peer, but he has instead created another controversy. Chris 'Mad Dog' Russo calls out LeBron James “Giannis is not as good as Julius Erving… he's not in the same ballpark.” (h/t @awfulannouncing ) pic.twitter.com/oxBC8h2qxQ — NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) March 26, 2025 James revealed his hot take on “The Pat McAfee Show,” and it instantly spread all over the internet. It reignited the age-old debate about who is better: modern NBA...

(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)   The Phoenix Suns have been showing signs of life lately and have won four games in a row. They are still the 10th seed in the Western Conference and have their work cut out for them but they look better than they have in a long time. This has some people questioning what their plans should be in the offseason. Speaking on ESPN, Carlos Boozer said the Suns should try to keep Kevin Durant and Devin Booker together this summer, despite previous reports that they would trade Durant. He said it would be in the team’s “best interest,” even if the Suns don’t go far in the playoffs this year. . @MisterCBooz says it would be in the Suns’ “best interest” to keep Kevin Durant and Devin Booker together pic.twitter.com/qFVGoHk80F — NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) March 25, 2025 Durant has proven that he is still a supremely talented basketball player, Boozer said. Pairing him with Booker was the right idea when Phoenix pursued him a few years ago, b...

(Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)   Jimmy Butler returned to Miami on Tuesday night, and the Heat provided him a warm welcome. The team played a tribute video for Butler, highlighting his many career accomplishments during his time in Miami. Following the game, Butler spoke to the press about the game and the video that was played in his honor. “The video was nice. But I won’t say there were a lot of emotions,” Butler said, per NBA on ESPN. Jimmy Butler spoke on his return to Miami and the Heat's video tribute for him. pic.twitter.com/gMRq17Jrcj — NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) March 26, 2025 After the video played, Butler stood and waved to the crowd, who actually applauded him and seemed fairly happy to see him. To some, this was a surprise because things did not end well between Butler and the Heat. By the time he finally left the team, the relationship between Butler and the front office was completely ruined and it seemed they would be enemies forever. Instead, Bu...

(Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)   After weeks away with an injury, Anthony Davis was back with the Dallas Mavericks on Monday night. Fans were thrilled to see Davis back and he helped the team win with his performance of 12 points and six rebounds. He isn’t yet at 100 percent, but he is clearly headed in the right direction. However, some people are concerned that Davis pushed himself too hard to return to the court. Speaking to the press, head coach Jason Kidd talked about that following his team’s 120-101 victory. “I think you have to commend him for working to get back because this is his job. He feels responsible to get back to work… He gets paid to play. I know you think this is a joke, but his character of working to get back with 12 games left shows how much he cares,” Kidd said, per Erik Slater. Jason Kidd responds to reports that Anthony Davis "pushed hard" to return from his injury this season: “I think you have to commend him for working to get ba...

(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)   When the 2024-25 NBA season began, Sacramento Kings fans were hoping their team could make a strong push through the playoffs. Now, they are hoping they just reach the Play-In Tournament. According to Evan Sidery, the Kings have lost eight of their last 11 games, and are “now on the verge of missing the postseason entirely.” The Kings hold a 35-36 record, while the Phoenix Suns are right behind them with 35-37. The Dallas Mavericks also have 35-37, while the Portland Trail Blazers aren’t far behind with a record of 32-40. The Kings have lost eight of their last 11 games, and they’re now on the verge of missing the postseason entirely: 9. Kings: 35-36 10. Suns: 35-37 11. Mavericks: 35-37 12. Trail Blazers: 32-40 Sacramento is only a 0.5 game up on Phoenix and Dallas over the final stretch. pic.twitter.com/0fe1IlMxaP — Evan Sidery (@esidery) March 25, 2025 The Kings have lost their last three games and were taken down by the Bosto...

(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)   Miami Heat fans used to cherish Jimmy Butler and loved to see him every time he was on the court. That definitely isn’t true now and he’s one of the biggest enemies the team has. But Butler is comfortable with how he is viewed by the Heat and, based on a new statement, doesn’t seem bothered by their perception of him. “They know what they’re doing. You got to paint somebody to be the bad guy. I’ll take being a bad guy. Makes no difference. I’m here now. I’m competing at a high level and I’m helping the Golden State Warriors win. They want me here. Hell, I’m cool with being a bad guy over there,” Butler said, per NBACentral. Jimmy Butler says he doesn’t mind being the ‘bad guy over there’ “You can’t control grown men in this line of work. You can try, but I’m going to do what I want to do. I’m going to show up. I’m going to compete and I’m going to help us win. So you can be mad. You can paint a… pic.twitter.com/r1778F8wDK ...

(Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)   Victor Oladipo spent years in the NBA, playing against some of the strongest competitors in the world. These days, he is making a name for himself as a commentator speaking about the game. Oladipo recently revealed his pick for the greatest player of all time, and it’s someone who has been talked about a lot lately: Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors. “I would consider him the best ever,” Oladipo said, per NBACentral, claiming that Curry quite literally changed the way people play in the NBA. Victor Oladipo considers Steph Curry the best player ever (h/t @terryworst ) pic.twitter.com/bFyQF6T1sU — NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) March 24, 2025 Oladipo said that Curry should be playing golf instead of basketball, which is just one of the things that makes him so special. Yes, Curry is built more like a golf player than a basketball star, but there is no doubt that he has altered the makeup of the league, what fans enjoy, an...

(Photo by Mike Windle/Getty Images for Vanity Fair)   The Oklahoma City Thunder barely beat the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday night in one of the most exciting games of the week. NBA insider and expert Bill Simmons was on hand for the game and had real praise for both teams, including one star player. “Went to an awesome Clips/Thunder game tonight. I gotta say… Kawhi looks terrific in person. It’s kind of shocking. The Clippers need to be taken seriously as a playoff spoiler if he’s healthy. They’re good,” Simmon wrote on X. Simmons and many others have been keeping an eye on the Clippers because they are starting to make serious noise at the perfect time. Went to an awesome Clips/Thunder game tonight. I gotta say… Kawhi looks terrific in person. It’s kind of shocking. The Clippers need to be taken seriously as a playoff spoiler if he’s healthy. They’re good. — Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) March 24, 2025 During the game, Leonard posted 25 points, 10 rebounds, three as...

(Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)   The 2024-25 NBA season is almost over, which means it’s time to size up this year’s rookies and see how well they performed. If last summer’s draft were held again today, would players be selected in the same order? That’s the question that Bill Simmons asked, via The Ringer, and he said he would choose Stephon Castle of the San Antonio Spurs for the top spot. Speaking with Ryen Russillo, he discussed the skills of Zaccharie Risacher of the Atlanta Hawks but stood by his decision to select Castle over him. Does Risacher still go #1 in 2024 NBA Re-Draft? @BillSimmons and @ryenarussillo disagree. pic.twitter.com/I55H0UaMSf — The Ringer (@ringer) March 24, 2025 In the draft, Risacher was the No. 1 overall pick, followed by Alex Sarr of the Washington Wizards and Reed Sheppard of the Houston Rockets. Castle was the fourth pick in the draft but he is currently a frontrunner for Rookie of the Year. This season, he has averaged 14.0 po...

(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)   They’re not where they want to be, but the Los Angeles Clippers have shown some serious signs of life lately. That is partly due to Kawhi Leonard, who has been performing incredibly well over the last stretch of games. According to Evan Sidery, Leonard has been in “vintage form.” He has recently averaged 26.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.8 stocks per game. To make that even more impressive, Leonard has had a true shooting percentage of 67.4 during this time. Kawhi Leonard is rounding into vintage form at the perfect time for the Clippers: 26.3 points 7.8 rebounds 3.5 assists 2.8 stocks 67.4 TS% If Leonard and James Harden can stay healthy, the Clippers will be a very tough out in the postseason. pic.twitter.com/4bk1Pexitm — Evan Sidery (@esidery) March 24, 2025 The Clippers remain the eighth seed in the Western Conference with a 40-31 record. On Sunday night, they almost beat the Oklahoma City Thunder and only l...

(Photo by Allen Kee/Getty Images)   For years, Bill Belichick was one of the most feared, revered, and respected figures in the National Football League. Besides his success on the field, his rather cold and mysterious persona only made him a bigger legend in the football industry. He was never very open or vocal when talking to the media. If anything, he made the most of every single chance he had to show he didn’t want to be there. That’s why Skip Bayless doesn’t like his new transition. Talking to his wife in his podcast, Bayless claimed that Belichick ‘needed attention,’ which is why he’s ‘flaunting’ his young girlfriend. Bill Belichick needs attention, he needs publicity. He spent all those years in New England avoiding attention at every step. Now he needs a splash of attention because he needs to put himself back on the map in college football. pic.twitter.com/142iF0JGCU — Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) March 23, 2025 Belichick has drawn mockery and criticism ...

(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)   Is there anything Steph Curry can’t do? That is a valid question, especially when the Golden State Warriors star makes amazing, hard-to-believe circus shots. He performed another one recently, which was shared on X via a video from Overtime. From the other side of the court, nearly in the tunnel to the locker rooms, Curry shot the ball and it somehow traveled across the entire court and found the basket. At this point, these kinds of buckets aren’t even that surprising coming from him. STEPH HOW?? (via markigloo/TT) pic.twitter.com/DluaebzwI3 — Overtime (@overtime) March 22, 2025 Curry hasn’t performed a shot like this during games this season, but his field goal percentage has been very impressive. He is shooting 44.7 percent from the field, which is down just slightly from last year (45.0 percent). He may not be reaching the career high of 50.4 percent, which he achieved during the 2015-16 season but Curry is still one of the mo...

(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)   This season has been filled with many headaches for the Miami Heat. But none have been larger than the Jimmy Butler drama that derailed them for weeks. Butler is now gone and the team’s chemistry may have improved, but their record has not. As noted by Legion Hoops, the Heat are now 4-17 since the Butler trade. They are the 10th team in the East with a 29-41 record, but hoping to get a lot better. But any improvement may have to wait until the summer. The Miami Heat are now 4-17 since the Jimmy Butler trade. pic.twitter.com/JSr4mmnREX — Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) March 22, 2025 They are five games ahead of the 11th seed Toronto Raptors, which means they have a good shot of reaching the Play-In Tournament. No one is sure what will happen there. In the past, they have made the most of the Play-In and were able to go far in the postseason. But that was with Butler, and a lot has changed since then. It was clear that Butler ha...

(Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)   Could the Phoenix Suns be slowly but surely getting their act together? They have now won three games in a row and overtook the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night with a big statement victory. Kevin Durant showed up for that game, as noted by Hoop Central. He posted 42 points, eight assists, and six rebounds, shooting 17-of-29 from the field and playing for 39 minutes. This is the version of Durant that other teams fear, and he could be making more appearances, especially if the Suns reach the playoffs. KEVIN DURANT TONIGHT: 42 POINTS 8 ASSISTS 6 REBOUNDS 17/29 FGM 39 MINUTES . (VIA @realapp_ ) pic.twitter.com/EAC9ZeU8AA — Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) March 22, 2025 Online, fans were ready to praise Durant, reminding others that he is one of the best in the league and a future Hall of Famer for a reason. A lot of people said that he carried his team, which is hard to argue with. His 42 points were more than double Devin...