NBA Season 2025-26

[Phantom255x]

There could be a lot of comedy in these final 3 days of the season as teams start to think about seedings and playoff matchups. Some of these teams like OKC, SAS, etc. have already clinched their seed and have nothing to play for, but you have others like LAL, DEN, and most of the East fighting for seeding and probably even strategizing on potential opponents.

For example, OKC is sitting basically everyone today, but so is DEN. And many are theorizing it's because DEN wants to drop to the 4 seed and face HOU first round, while avoiding MIN. Similar with the Lakers, I think at this point they'd prefer the 4 seed and HOU as opposed to MIN. The Pistons can also probably determine Charlotte's portion of the bracket (7 vs. 8, or 9 vs. 10) based on tonight's H2H. Just some examples. And of course, the final day of the season Sunday where there'll be more implications or scenarios.

[Who]

I was watching the Road Trippin podcast (C Frye, RJ, Perk) and they were talking about Wemby's lack of minutes + LeBron actually playing more minutes than Wemby this season despite not hitting the 65 game mark.

LeBron = 59 games 1,972 minutes
Wemby = 64 games 1,866 minutes

41 year old LeBron is playing more minutes than Wemby.

Wemby still at 29.2mpg. Just under 30mpg.

LeBron not eligible for postseason awards. Wemby is.

[Who]

ESPN has a fun article on 15 different categories

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/48439299/nba-most-valuable-players-15-categories-scoring-shooting-rebounding-passing-more-2025-26

Ball hawk: Best at forcing turnovers

Toumani Camara, Portland Trail Blazers

Net points: plus-3.2 per game, plus-255 total

Why he ranks No. 1: What separates Camara from others is that he forces a lot of dead ball turnovers, namely drawing fouls. I would not recommend watching the "highlights" of him taking fouls, but it would be educational for players who want to be a real pest. Camara draws charges at a high rate and he seems to goad players off the ball into pushing him off before falling down for good measure. It's ugly genius.

The runners-up: Tyrese Maxey (plus-3.1), Dyson Daniels (plus-3.0), Nickeil Alexander-Walker (plus-3.0)

Top rookie: VJ Edgecombe (plus-2.6)

Great stat.

Spark plug: Best off the bench

Ajay Mitchell, Oklahoma City Thunder

Net points: plus-2.0 per game (off the bench only, not starting), plus-83 total (off the bench)

Why he ranks No. 1: The Thunder develop talent, don't they? Mitchell was a second-round pick in the 2024 draft and his rookie year was considerably under-noticed when he came off the bench. He made sure to make a mark this year by doing well as a starter when he had to step in.

On the defensive side, amid all the other great defenders in OKC, he allowed the second-lowest shot quality to his matchup -- behind only Alex Caruso. Whereas Caruso has seven nicknames, per Basketball-Reference, Mitchell has none and is now playing like he deserves one.

The runners-up: Mitchell Robinson (plus-1.7), Isaiah Joe (plus-1.5), Keldon Johnson (plus-1.3)

Top rookie: Ryan Kalkbrenner (plus-1.1)

Always enjoy seeing bench guys get appreciation.

Facilitator: Best passer

Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons

Net points: plus-1.3 per game, plus-81 total

Why he ranks No. 1: The two teammates Cunningham has the most assists to this season are Jalen Duren and Duncan Robinson, Mr. Inside and Mr. Outside. They are shooting 69% and 66% effectively off his passes, per Genius IQ. That ability to create and see both options without making excessive mistakes is why he edges out Denver's Nikola Jokic this year.

The runners-up: Jokic (plus-1.3), Jalen Williams (plus-1.0), LaMelo Ball (plus-0.9)

Top rookie: Cooper Flagg (plus-0.7)

The best passer rating system is strange.

They have another one for best rebounder which Amen Thompson won (T Eason 2nd, D Clingan 3rd, M Diabate 4th). The rebounding rating was your own rebounds relative to your man / position on the other team. Largest net positive in rebounds. That makes some sense but it is better organized by position than overall.

Rainmaker: Best 3-point shooter

Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets

Net points: plus-2.3 per game, plus-163 total

Why he ranks No. 1: Murray has been good at shooting 3s for years, but this year he is great. Per Genius IQ, he's shooting 46% on 3s off the catch, 2% better than his previous high. He's shooting 42% off the dribble, equaling his career high, but on an extra 1.5 attempts per game. Defending players who can create 3s off the dribble is hard, especially with guys such as Murray, who can also get by you with a dribble. That's why his shooting has led to his best overall offensive season.

The runners-up: Stephen Curry (+2.1), Kon Knueppel (plus-1.9), Anthony Edwards [plus-1.8]

Top rookie: Knueppel (plus-1.9)

Surgical: Best midrange

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

Net points: plus-1.0 per game, plus-67 total

Why he ranks No. 1: Not a lot of guys can really help a team with this shot, which is why it has been gradually phased out for most players. Gilgeous-Alexander still adds +1.0 net points per game, which is better than all but 42 players shooting 3s. If we include the fouls he draws on midrange shots (imagine every coach yelling, "Don't foul a midrange shooter!"), his value on shot attempts in the midrange doubles to +2.1 per game. He has mastered a weapon that few can even attempt.

The runners-up: Jokic (+0.5), T.J. McConnell (+0.4), Kevin Durant (+0.4)

Top rookie: Knueppel (+0.0)

They also have best floater (D Mitchell, Jokic, T Herro, Luka) + best putback scorer (J Duren) + best shooting at the rim (Giannis, Jokic, Zion, SGA)

Speed demon: Best transition offense

Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers

Net points: plus-1.5 per game, plus-101 total

Why he ranks No. 1: Coaches often complain about how transition is defined because there is no clear rule. But, in my experience, coaches often agree on who are the best players in transition.

LeBron James has often been near the top of their lists, and he's a legit candidate again at age 41. But this goes to Maxey over LeBron mainly because he has created more opportunities himself. LeBron has the second-most transition shots that are assisted and his shots are usually dunks, whereas Maxey has to create more himself with a lower shot quality and he still makes them.

The runners-up: Kawhi Leonard (plus-1.5), James (plus-1.4), Doncic (plus-1.3)

Kawhi is a surprise here. LeBron and Luka are slower transition but lethal off the dribble in transition.

Stopper: Best on defense

Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs

Net points: plus-2.6 per game, plus-164 total

Why he ranks No. 1: "Why does he rank No. 1?" Have you seen this guy? No one instills fear in offensive players more than Wemby. He's making NBA players feel like all of us non-NBA players: Now they know what it's like to be short.

The net points metric works on the idea of tracking what a big physically did on defense. Wemby's intimidation is not so easily captured by the metric because intimidation is what the offensive players didn't do -- like not shoot layups when he's prowling the paint. But one thing that can be added into net points is how much he makes his teammates better on defense, and Wemby does that.

His teammates can pressure the ball a lot more with him behind them. Incorporating that would raise his number about another point ... not that he needs it.

The runners-up: Isaiah Hartenstein [plus-1.8], Chet Holmgren (plus-1.6), Caruso (plus-1.3)

Top rookie: Kalkbrenner and Collin Murray-Boyles virtual tie (plus-0.6)

3 OKC guys as runner-ups.

Collin Murray Boyles is one to watch. He can be a great defensive forward in this league. Needs to develop his 3 ball to play starter's minutes.

MVP: Best overall

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

Net points: plus-6.9 per game, plus-468 total

Why he ranks No. 1: Gilgeous-Alexander gets away with guarding weaker players. That's the negative we had to get out of the way. Otherwise, he was surgical with his midrange and cold-blooded in crunch time.

He is the best contact artist, which means drawing fouls more than anyone, an award not given this year because he has enough awards. And he has done all of this while facing the opponents' best defenders -- it likely helps that he faces the league's best wing defenders in Thunder practice: Caruso, Wallace and Dort. Give him the ball, give him the prize.

The runners-up: Jokic (plus-5.1), Doncic (plus-4.9), Leonard (plus-4.7)

Top rookie: Knueppel (plus-1.6)