NBA Season 2024-25

[SparzWizard]

This just in: Philadelphia 76ers shutting down C Joel Embiid for the remainder of the season due to injured left knee

[SparzWizard]

According to Sam Amick from The Athletic, Luka Doncic was actually informally offered to the Wolves for Anthony Edwards, but the Wolves were in too shock about hearing Luka's name on the table and turned down the trade.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6166120/2025/02/28/luka-doncic-lakers-timberwolves-trade/

A regrettable mistake Tim made. I would've traded Ant-man for Luka.

[Neurotic Guy]

According to Sam Amick from The Athletic, Luka Doncic was actually informally offered to the Wolves for Anthony Edwards, but the Wolves were in too shock about hearing Luka's name on the table and turned down the trade.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6166120/2025/02/28/luka-doncic-lakers-timberwolves-trade/

A regrettable mistake Tim made. I would've traded Ant-man for Luka.

So irritating to hear this. I?ll choose not to believe as it makes even more frustrated.  Earlier this year I posted that it won?t be long after LBJ leaves that they?ll get their next top five player.  That they got him already makes me crazy.

I wonder how many teams have never have a single legit top 5 player.  How many times have the Lakers had 2 simultaneously?

[Who]

I wonder how many teams have never have a single legit top 5 player.  How many times have the Lakers had 2 simultaneously?

Lakers question

(1) Jerry West & Elgin Baylor = 1960-1968
(2) Jerry West & Wilt Chamberlain 1969-73
(3) Kareem & Magic = 1980-86 or 87
(4) Shaq & Kobe = 2000-2004
(5) LeBron & AD = 2020-21

So since 1960 which is when the Lakers moved from Minneapolis to Los Angeles, the Lakers have had 2 top 5 players in what ... 28 out of 65 years. Almost 50% of their seasons.

That is incredible.

Pau was never a top 5 player. Arguably top 10. Worthy was not a top 5 player either. Not sure top 10 or not in late 80s. So two 2nd tier tandems relative to these top 5 pairings. Probably another 8-10 years for them as 2nd tier tandems. Plus some extra seasons for AD and LeBron. 11-13 years. Perhaps an extra year for Kobe in 1999 making it 12-15 years. That would be 40-43 years out of 65 where they have a top 5 pairing or top 10 pairing. About 2/3rds of their franchise history.

Also incredible.

[radiohead]

According to Sam Amick from The Athletic, Luka Doncic was actually informally offered to the Wolves for Anthony Edwards, but the Wolves were in too shock about hearing Luka's name on the table and turned down the trade.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6166120/2025/02/28/luka-doncic-lakers-timberwolves-trade/

A regrettable mistake Tim made. I would've traded Ant-man for Luka.

So irritating to hear this. I?ll choose not to believe as it makes even more frustrated.  Earlier this year I posted that it won?t be long after LBJ leaves that they?ll get their next top five player.  That they got him already makes me crazy.

I wonder how many teams have never have a single legit top 5 player.  How many times have the Lakers had 2 simultaneously?

I think these leaked reports are being put out there as damage control for the NBA and the Mavs. Wasn?t Nico Harrison adamant in saying that he only contacted Pelinka because he wanted AD and nobody else? I still believe that Nico gifted his good buddy Rob with Luka Doncic. If all these Giannis and Ant Man rumors are true, Nico could have easily said that those deals didn?t materialize. But no, he very clearly said at his initial presscon that he only offered Luka to the Lakers and even asked Pelinka to keep it under wraps because he wanted AD.

[Who]

I wonder how many teams have never have a single legit top 5 player.  How many times have the Lakers had 2 simultaneously?

A fun one to think about.

(1) Atlanta

They had a top 5 player back in St Louis with Bob Petitt. I don't think they have one since then. Dominique Wilkins has their best claim. He finished 2nd in MVP one year but I think that was a mistake by the voters. Never came close again. Then Dikembe Mutomo / Mookie Blaylock as their best players in late 90s. Joe Johnson and Al Horford as best players in 2000s / 10s. Trae Young as best player in 2020s. So for their 55 years in Atlanta since 1970, they have never had a top 5 player on their team.

(2) Charlotte

Alonzo Mourning, Larry Johnson, Glen Rice were their best players in the 90s. Alonzo reached top 5 player in late 90s with Miami but he wasn't top 5 in Charlotte. Neither were LJ or Rice. Nor Eddie Jones. Then Baron Davis and Mashburn. The team left for New Orleans after that. The Bobcats were the 2nd incarnation in Charlotte. They never had a top 5 player. Emeka Okafor was their best player. Then Jason Richardson / Stephen Jackson / Gerald Wallace. Al Jefferson. Then LaMelo Ball. So in 30 years or so, they have never had a top 5 player.

(3) Memphis

Pau Gasol was their best player. Then Z-Bo and Marc Gasol. Now Ja Morant. None were top 5 players.

(4) Seattle

A debatable one. Was Gary Payton ever a top 5 player in the league? I am not sure he was. Kemp wasn't. He was top 10 at his peak. Sikma, Gus Johnson and Dennis Johnson were never top 5 in the league in Seattle. Ray Allen. Nope. I don't think Seattle ever had a top 5 player despite all the success they managed to create up there. Spencer Haywood? Not sure he was ever top 5.

Teams with a Top 5 Player

* Boston = Cousy, B Russell, Hondo, Cowens, Bird, McHale, KG, Tatum
* Cincinnati = Oscar Robertson
* Chicago = Jordan, Pippen, D-Rose?
* Cleveland = LeBron
* Dallas = Dirk, Doncic
* Denver = Jokic
* Detroit = Bob Lanier, Grant Hill
* Golden State = Wilt, R Barry, Steph, Durant
* Houston = Moses Malone, Olajuwon, Harden
* Indiana = Jermaine O'Neal
* Kansas City = Tiny Archibald
* LA Clippers = CP3, Kawhi?
* LA Lakers = Mikan, E Baylor, J West, Wilt, Kareem, Magic, Shaq, Kobe, LeBron, A Davis, Doncic
* Milwaukee = Kareem, Oscar Robertson, Marques Johnson (late 70s), Moncrief?, Giannis
* Minnesota = Garnett
* Miami = Zo, Wade, Shaq, LeBron
* New Jersey / Brooklyn = Kidd, Durant
* New York = W Reed, Walt Frazier, B King, Pat Ewing
* New Orleans = CP3, A Davis
* Oklahoma = Durant, Westbrook, SGA
* Orlando = Shaq, Penny, T-Mac, Dwight
* Philly = Wilt, Billy Cunningham?, Doc, Barkley, Iverson, Embiid
* Phoenix = Connie Hawkins, Westphal, Barkley, Nash
* Portland = B Walton, Drexler?
* Sacramento = Webber
* San Antonio = Gervin, D Robinson, T Duncan, Wemby (already? if not, he will be soon)
* Toronto = one year of Kawhi
* Utah = K Malone
* Washington = W Unseld, E Hayes, E Monroe?

Leaders

Boston = 8 players
LA Lakers = 11 players

PHI = 5-6 players
MIL = 4-5 players

4 Top 5 players = GSW, MIA, NYK, ORL, PHX, SAS
3 Top 5 players = CHI, HOU, OKL

Orlando and Miami stand out as new(ish) franchises that have only existed for 35 years and already rate highly on this list. Orlando benefitting for draft luck with 3 #1 picks and then netting T-Mac in FA. Miami trading their way to 2 players, one top 5 pick in Wade and FA for LeBron. Hard work to get their guys except for LBJ.

Oklahoma also impressive. Only existed for a very short period. The year after Boston won the title in 2008. That was Durant's rookie year in Seattle. Then they moved. So 16-17 years. Something like that. And they have already had 3 top 5 players in Durant, Westbrook and SGA. They also had James Harden but refused to pay him. And PG13 had one big year there where he (unjustly IMO) got a top 5 MVP finish. Lady luck has shone brightly on them.

2 Top 5 Players = DAL, DET, LAC, NJN / BKN, NOH / NOP, POR, WAS
1 Top 5 Players = CLE, DEN, IND, MIN, SAC, TOR, UTA

Detroit is interesting because neither of their 2 title winning eras had top 5 players. Bob Lanier was in the 1970s when Detroit was the worst run team in the league and had little success. Grant Hill in the mid to late 90s when Detroit was often a middle of the pack of the squad with the exception of one strong year.

Indiana is also interesting. Reggie Miller was never a top 5 player. Jermaine O'Neal was a top 5 player for perhaps only 1 season in his career. Neither Danny Granger or Paul George were top 5 players. Tyrese Haliburton is not a top 5 player. So at best they had only 1 season in their near 40 year history with a top 5 player.

Toronto also noteworthy for their single season of Kawhi Leonard who led them to a title. They had Vince Carter and Chris Bosh as their other top players. DeMar DeRozan. They had T-Mac but lost him in FA.

The New Jersey Nets were always a famous example. They had Julius Erving in the ABA but lost him in the merger. Then never had a supstar again for almost 25 years when the got Kidd. And since Kidd left, they did not have a superstar since before leaving for Brooklyn and getting Durant.

[Goldstar88]

I wonder how many teams have never have a single legit top 5 player.  How many times have the Lakers had 2 simultaneously?

A fun one to think about.

(1) Atlanta

They had a top 5 player back in St Louis with Bob Petitt. I don't think they have one since then. Dominique Wilkins has their best claim. He finished 2nd in MVP one year but I think that was a mistake by the voters. Never came close again. Then Dikembe Mutomo / Mookie Blaylock as their best players in late 90s. Joe Johnson and Al Horford as best players in 2000s / 10s. Trae Young as best player in 2020s. So for their 55 years in Atlanta since 1970, they have never had a top 5 player on their team.

(2) Charlotte

Alonzo Mourning, Larry Johnson, Glen Rice were their best players in the 90s. Alonzo reached top 5 player in late 90s with Miami but he wasn't top 5 in Charlotte. Neither were LJ or Rice. Nor Eddie Jones. Then Baron Davis and Mashburn. The team left for New Orleans after that. The Bobcats were the 2nd incarnation in Charlotte. They never had a top 5 player. Emeka Okafor was their best player. Then Jason Richardson / Stephen Jackson / Gerald Wallace. Al Jefferson. Then LaMelo Ball. So in 30 years or so, they have never had a top 5 player.

(3) Memphis

Pau Gasol was their best player. Then Z-Bo and Marc Gasol. Now Ja Morant. None were top 5 players.

(4) Seattle

A debatable one. Was Gary Payton ever a top 5 player in the league? I am not sure he was. Kemp wasn't. He was top 10 at his peak. Sikma, Gus Johnson and Dennis Johnson were never top 5 in the league in Seattle. Ray Allen. Nope. I don't think Seattle ever had a top 5 player despite all the success they managed to create up there. Spencer Haywood? Not sure he was ever top 5.

Teams with a Top 5 Player

* Boston = Cousy, B Russell, Hondo, Cowens, Bird, McHale, KG, Tatum
* Cincinnati = Oscar Robertson
* Chicago = Jordan, Pippen, D-Rose?
* Cleveland = LeBron
* Dallas = Dirk, Doncic
* Denver = Jokic
* Detroit = Bob Lanier, Grant Hill
* Golden State = Wilt, R Barry, Steph, Durant
* Houston = Moses Malone, Olajuwon, Harden
* Indiana = Jermaine O'Neal
* Kansas City = Tiny Archibald
* LA Clippers = CP3, Kawhi?
* LA Lakers = Mikan, E Baylor, J West, Wilt, Kareem, Magic, Shaq, Kobe, LeBron, A Davis, Doncic
* Milwaukee = Kareem, Oscar Robertson, Marques Johnson (late 70s), Moncrief?, Giannis
* Minnesota = Garnett
* Miami = Zo, Wade, Shaq, LeBron
* New Jersey / Brooklyn = Kidd, Durant
* New York = W Reed, Walt Frazier, B King, Pat Ewing
* New Orleans = CP3, A Davis
* Oklahoma = Durant, Westbrook, SGA
* Orlando = Shaq, Penny, T-Mac, Dwight
* Philly = Wilt, Billy Cunningham?, Doc, Barkley, Iverson, Embiid
* Phoenix = Connie Hawkins, Westphal, Barkley, Nash
* Portland = B Walton, Drexler?
* Sacramento = Webber
* San Antonio = Gervin, D Robinson, T Duncan, Wemby (already? if not, he will be soon)
* Toronto = one year of Kawhi
* Utah = K Malone
* Washington = W Unseld, E Hayes, E Monroe?

Leaders

Boston = 8 players
LA Lakers = 11 players

PHI = 5-6 players
MIL = 4-5 players

4 Top 5 players = GSW, MIA, NYK, ORL, PHX, SAS
3 Top 5 players = CHI, HOU, OKL

Orlando and Miami stand out as new(ish) franchises that have only existed for 35 years and already rate highly on this list. Orlando benefitting for draft luck with 3 #1 picks and then netting T-Mac in FA. Miami trading their way to 2 players, one top 5 pick in Wade and FA for LeBron. Hard work to get their guys except for LBJ.

Oklahoma also impressive. Only existed for a very short period. The year after Boston won the title in 2008. That was Durant's rookie year in Seattle. Then they moved. So 16-17 years. Something like that. And they have already had 3 top 5 players in Durant, Westbrook and SGA. They also had James Harden but refused to pay him. And PG13 had one big year there where he (unjustly IMO) got a top 5 MVP finish. Lady luck has shone brightly on them.

2 Top 5 Players = DAL, DET, LAC, NJN / BKN, NOH / NOP, POR, WAS
1 Top 5 Players = CLE, DEN, IND, MIN, SAC, TOR, UTA

Detroit is interesting because neither of their 2 title winning eras had top 5 players. Bob Lanier was in the 1970s when Detroit was the worst run team in the league and had little success. Grant Hill in the mid to late 90s when Detroit was often a middle of the pack of the squad with the exception of one strong year.

Indiana is also interesting. Reggie Miller was never a top 5 player. Jermaine O'Neal was a top 5 player for perhaps only 1 season in his career. Neither Danny Granger or Paul George were top 5 players. Tyrese Haliburton is not a top 5 player. So at best they had only 1 season in their near 40 year history with a top 5 player.

Toronto also noteworthy for their single season of Kawhi Leonard who led them to a title. They had Vince Carter and Chris Bosh as their other top players. DeMar DeRozan. They had T-Mac but lost him in FA.

The New Jersey Nets were always a famous example. They had Julius Erving in the ABA but lost him in the merger. Then never had a supstar again for almost 25 years when the got Kidd. And since Kidd left, they did not have a superstar since before leaving for Brooklyn and getting Durant.

Who, you are a Legend. 

[Goldstar88]

Battle of LA. Good game between Clippers and Lakers. Totally forgot that LAC added Bogdanovic and Ben Simmons.

[SparzWizard]

How is 40 year old LeBron still balling hard on a SEGABABA while the Celtics minus the Jays couldn't put up points or play defense or stay healthy tonight

[Who]

Strange game. Clippers looked great early. Harden and Zubac were carving up the Lakers in the PnR. Kawhi looked sharp in moments and peripheral the rest of the time.

The 2nd units changed the game. LAC had an advantage with Zubac as the only real big man in the game. But then LAC went to their bench and they had no backup center. It was Ben Simmons. So LAL's lack of centers was absolved. It was forwards against forwards.

Amir Coffey looked weak. He couldn't match up with LAL's bigger forwards. With Luka, LeBron, Hachimura. Even DFS. Physically inferior to LAL's bigger forwards. And not skilled enough to fight back in another way.

Bogdanovic and Kawhi need to step up in the 2nd half. Harden and Zubac have looked good but LAC ran out of steam after not getting enough help from other players on the team.

Lakers look like they are getting stronger as the game goes on after starting out of the gates slowly.

[Who]

Nasty scratch on Luka's face. Looks like a cat had a go at him. I hope he got a foul whenever the defender did that to him.

[SparzWizard]

Typical Laker-officiating...Gabe Vincent gets away with a kicked ball and wide-open layup

[SparzWizard]

Lakers showing no signs of losing with this superstar duo. Beaten some good teams lately and esp on their b2b stretch. Also lost Austin Reaves tonight but still hung on.

Could be a #2 seed by the end of the season.

[Who]

Not that most persuasive performance from LAC.

Kawhi looks good but not great. He looks like a low level star more similar to someone like Michael Porter Jr. Not the dominant star that Kawhi was of the past. He doesn't look capable of leading them in a playoff series. At least not yet. It's still early in his return. This is his 18th game back. He has time to improve.

James Harden looked like he did last season and in that final season in Philly. Capable of being a superstar level performer some nights but no longer every night. Not longer a consistent performer. More peaks and valleys. Not steady. Not dependable. 5-22 FGA tonight with 6 turnovers. Settled for bad 3s. Settled for bad floaters. Lacked energy in pushing / controlling tempo. LAL did a better job at that and got some easy transition hoops because of it. It was a close game. Those easy hoops alone could have decided the game.

LAC do not look like a team capable of a long playoff run. They look like a team that will lose in the 1st round like they did last season.

Zubac even gave them 27pts and 16reb on 13-15 FGA. Still not enough to beat the Lakers. He was their best player by a large margin. Kris Dunn had a great game too. 14pts 9reb 6ast 4stl. Made several game-changing defensive plays & hustle plays to keep LAC in the game. Also shot the ball uncharacteristically well. Despite these two guys stepping up, LAC still lost. They lost because their stars are not at the level they need to be.

[Who]

Lakers showing no signs of losing with this superstar duo. Beaten some good teams lately and esp on their b2b stretch. Also lost Austin Reaves tonight but still hung on.

Could be a #2 seed by the end of the season.

Dang. You are right. I did not realize how close LAL was to the 2nd seed.

#2 DEN 39 wins 21 losses
#3 MEM 38 wins 21 losses
#4 LAL 37 wins 21 losses
#5 HOU 37 wins 22 losses

Close race. Any one of those teams could finish anywhere from 2nd to 5th.

Clippers are 6th with 32 wins 27 losses. So a significant gap between them and 2nd-5th placed teams.