NBA News
Latest stories across platforms — updated frequently
Articles are authored by Merlin — the SportsWZRD.
Mar 19, 2026
After Bam Adebayo 83, Kyrie Irving Jokes About Free Throws
Kyrie Irving joked that he "perhaps would have benefitted more trips to the free-throw line" after Bam Adebayo’s 83-point outburst last week. Adebayo attempted 43 free throws and made 36 while drawing heavy attention from defenses, and that volume from the line was a decisive factor in reaching 83. The exchange highlights how different scoring paths can produce historic nights. Merlin sees a lesson in the numbers. Free throws are a blunt but efficient tool, and Adebayo turned contact into points and history while defenses scrambled. Kyrie’s quip is playful, yet it nudges a larger conversation about how we judge monster performances and how coaches might adapt when a player starts getting that many foul calls. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of another 80+ point game this season: 7%.
Kevin Durant Says LeBron Could Play Until 45
Merlin sees Kevin Durant telling reporters LeBron "could play until he's 45 years old" after the 41-year-old poured in 30 points, hitting 13 of 14 shots in the Lakers’ win over the Rockets. James became the first player to score 30 while shooting at least 90 percent after turning 41, and he has fought through missed games and arthritis in his left foot to keep producing. Merlin notes why Durant’s belief is believable. Sharing the court with Luka Dončić opens lanes and lets LeBron finish with more dunks; he already has more dunks in 48 games this season than in 70 last year. With 23 seasons logged, health and fit will decide if he stretches that mark into a 24th and beyond. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of LeBron playing until 45: 12%.
Mar 19
Victor Wembanyama Would Vote Himself MVP
Merlin sees Victor Wembanyama answering "Of course" when asked if he would vote for himself in the MVP race. He sits in a crowded conversation with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Cade Cunningham, Nikola Jokić and Luka Dončić, though Cunningham’s collapsed lung changes the field. Wembanyama leads the league with 3.0 blocks and averages 24.2 points and 11.1 rebounds while shooting 50.6 percent from the floor and 35.9 percent from deep. The Spurs are 51-18 and second in the West, so his case is more than talk. Merlin notes the young giant is already a two-time block champ, Rookie of the Year and two-time All Star, a true matchup nightmare on both ends. He would happily trade an MVP for deeper playoff runs, saying "Playoff basketball is still a dream for us." The award may not come this year, but many more seasons lie ahead for Wembanyama to claim it. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Wembanyama winning this season’s MVP: 25%.
Mar 19
LeBron James Bows Out of NBA Expansion Race
LeBron James said he is "not at all" interested in owning an NBA team as the league moves toward expansion votes for Seattle and Las Vegas, likely for 2028-29. Expected bids sit in the "in the $7-to-$10 billion range," and Fenway Sports Group is "not currently interested" in backing a Vegas bid. That combination makes a LeBron-led ownership push unlikely even though he holds a one percent stake in FSG and expanded his deal with them. Merlin sees the high school fan will notice a pattern. LeBron once spoke of buying in Vegas, but the price and the loss of a key backer change the math. He still has equity in big clubs through FSG, so influence without full ownership fits his craft for now. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of LeBron pursuing an NBA expansion bid by 2028: 10%.
Mar 19
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Shai Gilgeous Alexander, Victor Wembanyama, Nikola Jokic: Playoff Flaws
Merlin sees a Bleacher Report rundown that picks apart the single fatal flaw for each of FanDuel’s top-10 title favorites on Mar. 19. The list names things like OKC’s reliance on Shai, San Antonio’s shaky spacing around Victor Wembanyama, Boston’s thin frontcourt and rebounding, Denver’s clutch lineup questions, Cleveland’s wing defense, New York’s lack of a true No. 2 creator, Detroit’s dependence on Cade Cunningham, Houston’s lack of playmaking beyond Kevin Durant, Minnesota’s turnover-prone secondary ball-handling, and the Lakers’ uneven defensive reliability. "Make no bones about it: One of these squads will almost assuredly be the last outfit standing." Merlin warns that playoffs magnify small edges. Teams with correctable flaws can survive if role players step up or health returns, but structural problems like persistent spacing, creation, or rebounding gaps are harder to hide. Watch who can create late, who can stretch defenses, and who secures the glass; those markers will decide who crumbles and who advances. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds the 2026 champion comes from today’s FanDuel top-10: 65%.
Mar 19
JJ Redick Says Watching LeBron James Makes Him a Loser
JJ Redick admitted that watching LeBron James makes him feel like "a loser" as he explained the "four-burner theory" of juggling work, health, family and friends. LeBron pushed back, saying "If he's a loser, we're all in deep s--t," after a 30-point night (13-of-14) in a 124-116 win. The Lakers are on a seven-game streak and 10 of 11, and while LeBron shows signs of decline, he still lifts the team at key moments. For Redick, postseason success is the real test to quiet questions about his tenure. Merlin sees a team aging but aligning at the right moment. LeBron can still bend single games to his will, and a hot Lakers group can cover regular season flaws. If playoff matchups fall kindly, Redick’s stock rises; if they do not, his candid honesty will not save him. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of the Lakers getting past the first round this season: 65%.
Mar 19
Las Vegas and Seattle Could End NBA Divisions
Merlin sees the NBA gearing up to add Las Vegas and Seattle, with the board of governors expected to vote on a 2028-29 start. Approval would trigger realignment, likely moving Memphis to the East, and force fresh thinking on travel, scheduling quirks, and why divisions still exist. Merlin notes the geography has long been messy. The piece even calls the "obvious next step" to "scrap divisions entirely." Removing rigid divisions could cut travel, simplify tiebreakers, and let schedules follow rivalry and sense instead of outdated maps. Tradition will bristle, but the league has been nudging toward change for years. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of the NBA approving Las Vegas and Seattle for 2028-29 and moving Memphis to the East: 70%.
Mar 19
Wembanyama Spurs Surge Shakes NBA Playoff Picture
Merlin sees the NBA hurtling toward the finish and a fresh round of team-by-team forecasts that respond to March’s chaos. Injuries to Giannis Antetokounmpo and Anthony Edwards have muddled projections, Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs keep outperforming, and streaks from Atlanta and Miami are forcing upward revisions. Bleacher Report’s update tweaks win totals across the board and highlights which teams are surging, which are sputtering, and which rely on single-player health. Merlin notes that these final weeks are about schedules and durability more than theory. Teams built on depth and defense look likeliest to hold seed lines, while clubs dependent on one star are vulnerable if the injuries linger. Expect late-season lineup shuffles, strategic rest, and a few surprise climbs into the playoff picture. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds the San Antonio Spurs finish with 60 wins this season: 45%.
Mar 19
Luka Doncic and LeBron Power Lakers Past Rockets
Merlin sees a clever role change paying off for the Lakers. After JJ Redick called it "the best thing for our team" to have LeBron James as the "third-highest-used player," Los Angeles rode that setup to a 124-116 win in Houston. Luka Dončić finished with 40 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds, while LeBron, 41, scored 30 on 13-of-14 shooting as the Lakers improved to 44-25 and stretched the streak to seven wins. Merlin notes the balance feels different. Dončić’s creation plus LeBron’s efficiency gives L.A. late-game versatility few teams can match, and Deandre Ayton’s interior presence steadies the rotation. The Rockets showed bursts but lacked a closer, and Miami will be a real check of whether this new hierarchy can carry through the grind. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Los Angeles extends its win streak at Miami: 60%.
Mar 19
Michael Jordan Hands Tracy McGrady $20,000 After Roy Jones Fight
Tracy McGrady recalled on a recent podcast that Michael Jordan once handed him "a bag of $20,000" after losing a bet on a Roy Jones Jr. vs. Antonio Tarver fight. McGrady says MJ called him over at the club, said "You got me," and paid in cash. The moment fits the familiar image of Jordan as a fierce competitor who settles scores with money and presence. Merlin sees the scene as part of Jordan lore: high stakes, public bravado, and stories that grow sweeter with time. McGrady keeps a neat trophy of a night he beat MJ at his own game, while Jordan’s Atlantic City gambling escapade before a 1991 playoff game reminds fans that risk never left him. More backstage tales will keep arriving as teammates and rivals tell their versions. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of another Michael Jordan betting anecdote surfacing this year: 75%.
Mar 19
LeBron's Vegas NBA Ownership Dream Loses Fenway Support
Fenway Sports Group is "not currently interested" in bidding for the reported Las Vegas expansion team, a blow to LeBron James, who had long eyed ownership and counted on FSG as his primary backer. LeBron, who has said "I want a team in Vegas. I want the team in Vegas," may now face a steeper path as the league eyes expansion fees reportedly as high as $8 billion and governors vote March 25 on whether to begin vetting Seattle and Vegas. Merlin sees timing and money as the true dragons here. If LeBron keeps playing into 2026-27 he cannot be an owner, valuations are sky high, and without FSG’s backing he will need new partners or patience. The door is not closed, only narrowed. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of LeBron owning the Las Vegas expansion team by 2029: 20%.
Mar 18
Timberwolves Anthony Edwards Builds Dream Player With Stephen Curry
Anthony Edwards teamed with Topps to sketch the “perfect” NBA player by mixing traits from stars like Kyrie Irving’s handles, Stephen Curry’s shooting, Jaden McDaniels’ defense, Chris Paul’s IQ and Zach LaVine’s dunking, even weighing Shaquille O’Neal over Hakeem Olajuwon at center. The choices reveal what Edwards prizes: elite creation and shotmaking plus length and rim force. He is not speaking as a fanboard fantasist; he averages a career-high 29.5 points for a 42-27 Timberwolves squad that has pushed to the conference finals twice and still wants more. Merlin sees more than a highlight reel. Edwards is mapping a team built around his strengths and the game’s greats, signaling the mix of skill and size the Wolves need to break through. If Minnesota adds the right role players to match that blueprint, their Finals window grows. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of the Timberwolves reaching the NBA Finals this season: 30%.
Mar 18
Giannis Defies Bucks, Vows Season Return
Giannis Antetokounmpo wants to keep playing even as the Bucks asked him to "shut down for the remainder of the season" after a left knee hyperextension and bone bruise, a request he has "refused." He has missed chunks of the year with calf issues, and Milwaukee sits 28-40 and 11th in the East, so the club fears risking a worse injury with little playoff upside. Merlin sees a clash of will and wisdom. Giannis still averages 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists on 62.4 percent shooting, so he shifts the balance when healthy, but pushing through now could imperil his prime and deepen questions about his long-term future in Milwaukee. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Giannis shuts down for the remainder of the season: 65%.
Mar 18
LeBron Joins Luka in NBA The Run
Merlin sees NBA The Run building buzz. The latest trailer adds LeBron James, Tyrese Haliburton and Cade Cunningham as the "Court Visionaries" trio, joining cover stars Luka Dončić and LaMelo Ball. Play By Play Studios lists the game as "coming out at some point in 2026" but has not set a date. The online 3x3 will feature Venice Beach and Rucker Park and will be on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Steam. Merlin senses the star power and real-world courts aim to lure both casual fans and streetball purists. With the studio announcing the project last October, the slow drip of trailers feels deliberate. To threaten NBA 2K, gameplay must be crisp and progression fair. The real questions are crossplay, modes and when a firm launch window will appear. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds NBA The Run launches in 2026: 45%.
Mar 18
Alex Caruso Shoe Swing Draws Goaltending and Technical for Thunder
Alex Caruso drew a goaltending call and a technical after swinging his shoe at Tristan da Silva's shot in the Thunder's playoff-clinching win over the Magic. "I honestly don't know what I thought the call would be," he said, and he added he would not have done it if he'd expected the tech. The odd play happened amid a late surge but did not derail Oklahoma City, which closed strong to clinch a postseason spot and a 3.0-game lead for the West's top seed. Merlin sees a player doing whatever it takes. The strange, low-risk move cost three points but showcased Caruso's hustle; he finished with eight rebounds, a steal and key plays late. League officials will file the moment away and coaches will warn against weaponizing shoes. The image will be a quirky footnote for a team built on defense and scrappy effort. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of another shoe-block attempt in the next five seasons: 7%.
Mar 18
Michael Jordan Faxed Chicago Bulls: I'm Back
Thirty-one years ago Michael Jordan sent a two-word fax to the Chicago Bulls that read "I'm back." After a brief baseball detour he returned late in the 1994-95 season and then led the Bulls to three straight championships, turning a simple note into one of the most iconic off-court moments in sports. Fans still mark the anniversary on social media, and the message lives on in Jordan lore. Merlin sees the fax as a perfect slice of Jordan: bold, direct, and theatrically timed. In an era of nonstop social media a text or tweet would blur into the noise, so the fax feels almost magical now. It reminds the young fan that how a story is told can become as legendary as the plays on the court. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of an off-court moment in the next five years matching the cultural weight of "I'm back.": 10%.
Mar 18
AJ Dybantsa Could Leapfrog Darryn Peterson for No 1
Merlin senses the high school fan wondering who will go No. 1. Kansas freshman Darryn Peterson has slipped from a presumed top spot after a rough stretch and questions about availability. One scout told The Athletic that BYU freshman AJ Dybantsa is "a real conversation" because "what he's been doing at his size, is different." Peterson said, "There was some foolish stuff being said" and is focused on getting healthy. Peterson still averages 19.8 points while shooting 44.2 percent overall and 38.4 from three, but late-season dips and cramping have scouts wary. Merlin sees evaluators leaning toward size and steadiness, which gives Dybantsa momentum. If Peterson clears up health concerns and returns to form, the lore around him can shift back as quickly as it unraveled. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Darryn Peterson being the No. 1 pick: 30%.
Mar 18
Deandre Ayton Embraces Bench Role, Powers Lakers Surge
Deandre Ayton says he has changed his view on coming off the bench after grumbling about his role in February. Averaging a career-low 27.4 minutes, Ayton told The Athletic "I bought in. Completely, like 110 percent." He has embraced a tougher, defensive role and delivered late, grabbing four offensive rebounds to help close a win as the Lakers push for a top-four seed. Merlin sees a veteran reshaping his game into team fuel. LeBron praised his effort and coach JJ Redick’s staff kept tabs before reusing him late. Ayton’s willingness to accept bursts of minutes and crash the glass gives Los Angeles real depth when the playoff hunt tightens. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Ayton remains a reliable high-energy bench finisher down the stretch: 75%.
Mar 18
NBA X Factors Revealed: Luka Doncic, Marcus Smart
Merlin sees a seasonwide checklist of X-factors, one for every NBA club. The piece names role players, injuries, minutes and tanking moves that could tilt outcomes — from Jonathan Kuminga’s health in Atlanta and Jayson Tatum’s return for Boston to rookies eating minutes for Brooklyn and Marcus Smart’s defense for the Lakers. The author even asks, "How can the losing teams have X-factors?" and shows how small shifts will reshape playoff seeds and draft chances. Merlin warns that a single return or bench surge can change a team’s fate. Teams chasing losses will tweak minutes and ride rookies, contenders will nurse stars for a playoff window, and a hot stretch from a role player can feel like magic. Watch late-season availability and volume for the hidden game-changers. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Jalen Williams returns near full strength for the playoffs and makes OKC borderline unbeatable: 35%.
Mar 18
King LeBron Teases Beats Nike Powerbeats Pro 2
Beats and Nike rolled out their first hardware collaboration with the Powerbeats Pro 2 Nike Special Edition, fronted by LeBron James in a funny golf ad. The right bud wears the Nike Swoosh, the left bears the Beats b, the case hides "Just Do It" inside the lid, and the earbuds offer adaptive noise cancelling, transparency mode, built in heart rate monitoring and up to 45 hours of battery. They go on sale March 20. LeBron said he has "been part of the Beats journey since day one." Merlin sees the move as more than a sneaker logo on tech. LeBron’s growing golf obsession, summed up as "The bug is real," lets the campaign blend training, recovery and lifestyle. A high school fan will notice how LeBron lends credibility to both performance features and casual use. Expect more brand pairings like this as audio goes after fitness and golf audiences. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds the special edition sells out on launch day: 75%.
Mar 18
Timberwolves Star Anthony Edwards Takes On Barack Obama
Merlin sees Minnesota star Anthony Edwards and former president Barack Obama trading playful blows in a recent video, competing in basketball, ping-pong and Connect 4. The clip teases the Obama Presidential Center opening on June 19 and recalls a viral moment when Edwards told Obama "I'm the truth." The matchup highlighted Edwards' charisma and reach beyond the Timberwolves. Merlin notes Edwards is not just a showman. He is a four-time All-Star averaging 29.5 points with 5.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.4 steals while shooting a career-high 49.2 percent from the field and 40.2 percent from three. After Obama said he "wore [Edwards] out," Edwards fired back, "Nah, he didn't wear me out. He did aight for an old man." That swagger matches the on-court production that has pushed Minnesota into deep playoff conversations. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Anthony Edwards finishes the season averaging 30+ points per game: 35%.
Mar 17
Shai Gilgeous Alexander Leads Thunder to Playoffs
The defending champions clinched a top-six seed in the West with Tuesday’s win over Orlando, becoming the first team to guarantee a playoff spot. Oklahoma City remains the league’s best team by net rating at 10.7, driven by stingy defense and the MVP-caliber play of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who averages 31.6 points and 6.7 assists. The Thunder have managed this despite Jalen Williams being out since February with a hamstring strain, and his return would make OKC an even clearer favorite to emerge from the West. Merlin sees a team built for playoff pain and reward. The Thunder pair elite defense with Shai’s scoring peak, but the West is crowded with hungry challengers from San Antonio, Los Angeles, Houston, Denver and Minnesota. Health and matchup luck will shape how far the crown holders travel. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Oklahoma City repeating as champions this season: 35%.
Mar 17
Pistons' Cade Cunningham Ruled Out vs Wizards With Back Spasms
Cade Cunningham was ruled out for the rest of Tuesday’s game against Washington with back spasms after five minutes of play. He finished with six points in a brief stint, but had been durable this season, appearing in 60 of 67 games and averaging 24.9 points and 10.1 assists. With Detroit holding a 3.5 game lead in the East, his availability matters as Caris LeVert and Daniss Jenkins are set to absorb extra minutes. Merlin sees a common late season wobble rather than a crisis. Back spasms often respond to rest and treatment, and Detroit will likely protect its All Star while managing minutes to preserve the top seed. If the issue lingers, the Pistons’ margin for error shrinks and matchups will get tougher. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of Cade missing the next Pistons game: 20%.
Mar 17
LeBron James Rewards Polite Kid After Lakers Win
LeBron James turned a quick autograph into a life lesson after Monday’s win over the Houston Rockets. As he headed to the locker room, a young fan asked him to sign his shoes and, at the father’s prompt, said "please." James called the boy over, autographed the shoes, and left him with a keepsake and a simple reminder about manners, reinforcing LeBron’s reputation as a public figure who uses small moments to teach. Merlin sees more than highlights in scenes like this. It is leadership in a minute: a veteran showing respect for fans and modeling behavior for the next generation. These quiet gestures add to LeBron’s off-court influence and keep stars relatable to young fans who learn by watching. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds of LeBron sparking a leaguewide etiquette trend among kids this season: 10%.
Mar 17
Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton Stands By Single March Madness Bracket
Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton threw his weight behind the "sheet of integrity" approach to NCAA brackets, writing "Make one bracket and stand on it." The phrase, popularized by Mike Greenberg, urges people to pick a single bracket rather than hedge across several. Haliburton's public stance reveals a disciplined, confident mindset and brings an NBA voice into the March bracket ritual. Merlin sees a competitor comfortable with risk. Haliburton's line reads like a playoff mantra: commit and accept the outcome. It may nudge fans who look up to him, though many will still hedge their bets. Either way, the tweet turns a private habit into a public posture and adds a tidy bit of drama to bracket season. 🧙♂️ Merlin’s Prediction: Odds Haliburton actually submits only one bracket this year: 65%.
Mar 17