Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren have the Detroit Pistons off to a hot start

 

                                             (Cade Cunningham. Credit: Paul Sancya/AP Photo) 

The Detroit Pistons are off to an impressive 17-4 start, defeating the Atlanta Hawks 99-98 on Monday, December 1st. Leading the way for the Pistons is point guard Cade Cunningham, who is averaging 28.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 9.4 assists, and 1.2 steals per game on 45.6% shooting from the field, 31.2% shooting from 3-point range, and 81.5% shooting from the foul line. After going 44-38 and finishing 6th in the Eastern Conference, the Pistons are now in first place in the East, looking like an NBA Finals contending team. 

Cunningham is obviously the engine that makes this Pistons team go. He's doing it all: scoring at an elite level, facilitating, rebounding, etc. He's simply sensational. But what's really helped them take the next step into being NBA championship contenders is the emergence of forward Jalen Duren, who is averaging 19.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game. Last year, Duren was averaging 11.8 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game. The rebounding and rim protection were there, but he's really taken a leap forward in his ability to score. Now that they have a legit one-two punch and also a nice third option in Tobias Harris (15.2 points), this Pistons team appears to have the pieces to make a real run at a championship this year. 

The biggest question for them is can they keep it up? The NBA season is such a grind and a lot of times teams that get off to hot starts like this fade as the season goes on. Playing this well for a quarter of the season is one thing, but to play this well for an entire season is another level. It'll be fun to see if the Pistons can keep this up and where they're at once we hit the All-Star break. That will tell us a lot about what kind of team this really is. I for one would love to see them make a deep run this year. It's been too long since the Pistons were this relevant. 

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Can the Orlando Magic build on last season's playoff appearance?

 

The Orlando Magic are coming off a season in which they went 41-41 overall, finishing 7th in the Eastern Conference. After surviving the NBA playoffs play-in tournament, they lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Boston Celtics in five games. This year, with a new logo, they are hoping to have an improved season and make more noise in the Eastern Conference this year.

The Magic return their core in third year forward Paolo Banchero (25.9 points & 7.5 rebounds), fourth year forward Franz Wagner (24.2 points & 5.7 rebounds), and fourth year guard Jalen Suggs (16.2 points & 3.7 assists). When healthy, that's a difficult trio to stop. There's a nice blend of inside and outside scoring there. On top of that, they acquired shooting guard Desmond Bane from the Grizzlies in a trade while giving up Cole Anthony, Kentavious Caldwell Pope, and some draft picks. Bane is coming off a season in which he averaged 19.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.2 steals per game, so on paper he's a legit addition to their team. 

The problem the Magic had last year was staying healthy. Banchero played in only 46 games and Suggs played in just 35 games due to various injuries. And then Wagner played in 60 games due to minor injuries and load management. They just weren't able to have those guys on the court together long enough to make a serious push for a top four seed in the conference. That's where I think Bane is supposed to come in. He played in 69 games last year, starting 68 of those games. He was able to stay healthy for most of the season and hopefully will be able to give the Magic more stability this season. 

The Magic have to feel hopeful that if they can keep their guys healthy, they could do some real damage. The fact that they were still able to get the 7th seed has to give them a lot of confidence. If they can accomplish that with two of their top three players missing all the games that they missed, there's no telling what they can do if they stay healthy along with the addition of Bane. 

Of course, staying healthy is never a given and it's important to have guys who can step up if needed. One guy to keep an eye on is rookie guard Jase Richardson, son of former Golden State Warriors star Jason Richardson. Richardson was the 25th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft out of Michigan State and will look to provide a similar type of energy that his dad did when he came into the NBA. If Richardson can provide a spark, that would be huge. 

All in all, I'm cautiously optimistic about this Magic team. They are returning their key pieces and are also a very young team. If the stars align for these guys, I don't see why they can't be a top four team in the Eastern Conference and possibly be a dark horse team to reach the NBA Finals. 

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2025 NBA Canada Series is a reminder that a team returning to Vancouver would be fun

                                             (Rogers Arena. Credit: rogersarena.com) 

On Monday, the Denver Nuggets defeated the Toronto Raptors 112-108 in the 2025 NBA Canada Series game at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, Canada. Christian Braun led the way for the Nuggets with 19 points while RJ Barrett and Brandon Ingram each had 19 points for the Raptors. Given it was a preseason game, the outcome didn't really matter. The big storyline is that there was NBA basketball being played in Vancouver, the original home of the Memphis Grizzlies. The Grizzlies played in Vancouver from 1995-2001, leaving for Memphis after six poor seasons. 

Despite their lack of success in British Columbia, over the years there have been more and more people wondering about whether or not an NBA return to Vancouver is possible and if so, would that mean the Memphis Grizzlies give back the name. In many ways, the Grizzlies left Vancouver before really giving the city a fair shot. It takes time to establish a fanbase in a new city, especially one that historically hasn't had much basketball played in it. 

Had the NBA given it more time in Vancouver and allowed the Grizzlies to grow into a solid team, there's no reason to think they couldn't have become a popular and permanent fixture of the city. But alas, the declining value of the Canadian dollar at the time combined with poor results and lack of a true superstar led to the Grizzlies' premature departure. 

Touching more on the lack of a true superstar, the Grizzlies kinda sorta had one in Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Bryant Reeves a.k.a Big Country, but neither of those two could hold a candle to what Vince Carter was doing for the Toronto Raptors. In hindsight, the one that really got away from the Grizzlies was Steve Francis, whose refusal to play for the Grizzlies led to the Grizzlies trading him to the Houston Rockets before he ever played an NBA game. Had Francis decided to give Vancouver a shot, perhaps that would have saved the franchise's future in British Columbia. 

Looking ahead to the future, right now it still feels like a pipe dream for the NBA to actually return to Vancouver. They have 30 teams at the moment and odds are really good that if the NBA expands, it'll be to 32 teams with Seattle and  Las Vegas being the two front runners to get those spots. There's virtually no way of seeing one of the next two expansion cities being Vancouver. 

That said, if the NBA were to expand beyond 32 teams, then I think a return to Vancouver is possible. More specifically, I could see a Vancouver franchise returning to the NBA if the league were to expand to 36 teams. When looking at possible NBA expansion cities, one of the first places to look for is NHL cities that don't have an NBA franchise. Of that group of cities, once you go beyond Las Vegas and Seattle, Vancouver arguably makes the most sense. Especially since there used to be an NBA presence there and a small, but loyal fanbase remains. 

For now, the NBA Canada Series and the Memphis Grizzlies wearing vintage uniforms is as close as we can get to quenching our thirst for an NBA franchise in Vancouver. But perhaps in the not too distant future, we'll once again see an NBA franchise permanently call Rogers Arena home. 

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The Golden State Valkyries had a successful inaugural season

 

                                             (Credit: Golden State Valkyries) 

Given I live in the Bay Area, I thought it would be good for me to give some love to the Golden State Valkyries, who just finished their first season in the WNBA. The Valkyries finished the season 8th in the WNBA with a record of 23-21, losing in the first round of the playoffs to the Minnesota Lynx 2-0. They became the first team in WNBA history to reach the playoffs in their inaugural season. As a result, their head coach Natalie Nakase was named WNBA Coach of the Year. This was Nakase's first season as a WNBA head coach after previous stops as an assistant coach with the Las Vegas Aces and Los Angeles Clippers. For her to coach the Valkyries to such success is truly impressive. 

On top of having a great coach, the Valkyries also had some excellent players on their roster. Guard Veronica Burton was named the WNBA's most improved player, averaging 11.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 1.1 steals per game after averaging 3.1 points, 1.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 0.5 steals per game the previous season with the Connecticut Sun. On top of that, forward Janelle Salaün was named to the WNBA All-Rookie Team after averaging 11.3 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. 

What's even more impressive is the Valkyries made the playoffs given the injuries they had to overcome. Their leading scorer Kayla Thornton (14.0 points & 7.0 rebounds) played in only 22 games and underwent season-ending knee surgery in July while guard Tiffany Hayes (11.7 points) missed the final eight games of the regular season due to a knee injury of her own before also missing both playoff games. Given they lost their home playoff game to Minnesota 75-74, one can't help but wonder how the Valkyries would have done had they been healthy. They would have likely finished with a better seed and as a result might have found a way to win a series. 

As a result of their stellar play and exciting brand of basketball, the Valkyries brought a lot of energy to the Bay Area. The Chase Center was always packed to the brim and when they had to play their home playoff game at the SAP Center in San Jose, they had a full crowd for that game as well. The entire region was behind them in full force, proving that the Bay Area was long overdue for a WNBA franchise. 

Looking ahead to next season, it'll be fun to see how the Valkyries do and how much they build on the success that they had. If they can stay healthy and gain more cohesion as a team, I don't see why they can't make a deep playoff run in 2026. 

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What does the future hold for Jonathan Kuminga in Golden State?

 

                                             (Credit: Cary Edmondson/Imagn Images) 

Earlier this week, the Golden State Warriors and small forward Jonathan Kuminga agreed to a two-year $48.5M deal following a contract dispute that lasted around three months. Kuminga was coming off the final year of his rookie contract (2024-25) that included a team option for 2025-26. He was hoping to get a new contract with the team that would give him more control, but in the end, he ended up settling for a two-year deal that included a team option for the second year (meaning the team still controls his rights) while also requiring him to waive his no-trade clause, meaning the Warriors can trade him starting January 15th, 2026. 

Given the current details on his contract, it sure looks like Kuminga is being retained by the Warriors for the purposes of being trade bait. That of course doesn't mean that's actually the case. The fact that there is the team option on the second year of the contract could also indicate the Warriors are open to the possibility of him being a part of their long-term future, but that they want to see how this season goes. Still, that said, the fact that the Warriors required him to waive his no-trade clause indicates that at a minimum, they'd like to leave open the possibility of trading him. 

A major reason for why the Warriors might be open to trading Kuminga is the fact that he missed a decent chunk of last season due to an ankle sprain while also seeing a slight dip in his production. In the 2023-24 season, he averaged 16.1 points and 4.8 rebounds per game on 52.9% shooting from the field, 32.1% shooting from 3-point range, and 74.6% shooting from the field in 74 games played (26.3 minutes per game). In the 2024-25 season, he averaged 15.3 points and 4.6 rebounds per game on 45.4% shooting from the field, 30.5% shooting from 3-point range, and 66.8% shooting from the foul line in 47 games played (24.3 minutes per game). 

It would make sense for the Warriors to see if Kuminga has an improved 2025-26 season before making a determination on what to do with him. Come January 15th, they should have a good feel for what direction he's trending and be able to make a pretty well-informed decision: 

If he has an improved season and is averaging 18+ points per game with better shooting numbers, it probably would make sense for them to hang onto him and see if they can orient things towards a long-term future. If he doesn't have an improved season, then it would probably make sense for them to look for a trade partner. Given he is only 23 years old, a lot of teams would still be intrigued by his upside as a former lottery pick and the Warriors could almost certainly get something of value for him. Kuminga might not like it, but for the Warriors, this is really the best situation for them to be in. 

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How good of a duo can De'Aaron Fox and Victor Wembanyama be in San Antonio?

 

                                         (Credit: Reggie Hildred/Imagn Images) 

The San Antonio Spurs are coming off a 2024-25 season in which they went 34-48 overall in year one of Mitch Johnson taking over as head coach with Gregg Popovich sliding over to the president of basketball operations role. As they look to have an improved season, the hope is that the tandem of point guard De'Aaron Fox and center Victor Wembanyama will produce at an elite level and help them get back to being an NBA championship contending team. 

Despite acquiring Fox before the trade deadline back in February, the Spurs haven't really gotten a chance to see what he and Wembanyama can do together as they only played five games together due to both players getting injured. Wembanyama playing in only 46 games as he dealt with a blood clot issue that has since been resolved. During the five games that they were on the floor together, Wembanyama averaged 24.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 4.0 blocks per game while Fox averaged 21.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 7.8 assists per game. 

In their second to last game together, the two of them combined for 61 points in a 131-121 road win over the Washington Wizards. Wembanyama finished with 31 points, 15 rebounds, four assists, three blocks, and two steals while Fox finished with 30 points, four rebounds, six assists, and one steal. Even though the Wizards were terrible last season, that win still gave the Spurs a glimpse of what a Wembanyama and Fox duo could look like. 

Fox is one of the most talented point guards in the NBA. He's incredibly quick with the ball, capable of creating for others while also possessing an ability to score both around the rim and from the perimeter. As for Wembanyama, he's one of the most amazing talents the NBA has ever seen. A 7'3" freak that can hit threes, run the floor, handle the ball, and fiercely protect the rim. He's everything you want in a big man. A true unicorn. 

Ultimately, the big question the Spurs have is whether or not Fox and Wembanyama can stay healthy. If they are able to stay on the floor, the sky is the limit to what they can accomplish. They have the potential to be a duo that makes a lot of noise in the Western Conference and gets the Spurs back in the championship conversation. There's just not many teams that have a point guard/big man combination like this. It'll be fun to see how the season goes for them and how quickly they start to gel. 

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The NBA's "Heave Rule" should bring more excitement

 

                        (Stephen Curry heaving a shot. Credit: Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) 

The NBA has made a change to how they statistically record last second shots of 36 feet or longer. Rather than having such shots count against a player's field goal percentage if they miss, they'll only count against the team field goal percentage. If the player makes the shot, then it will count toward the player's field goal percentage as it normally would. 

Below are the conditions of the rule: It is for shots 36 feet or further and within the final three seconds of the first three quarters. The play must also originate in the backcourt. 

The purpose of this rule change is to encourage more end of quarter shots without players worrying about the impact it would have on their field goal percentage. Many players hesitated to take such shots given it would hurt their stats. If you were say 9-9 on the night, you might not want to throw up a prayer that will end your perfect shooting night. Now, players can heave such shots with no such worries. As a result, we should see more last second attempts and thus, more crazy shots, upping the entertainment level. 

All around, this is a great rule and one that has been long overdue. Not only is it unfair to a guy's stats to count those shots against him, but also when you think about it, the whole point of field goal percentage is to track shots that are well, shots. In many ways a last second heave of 36 feet or longer isn't really a shot. It's a heave. Hence the name of the rule. On those grounds, they really should be a different statistical category. 

On top of being more entertaining for fans, this rule change will also have an impact on fantasy basketball. Many fantasy basketball matchups have been affected by a last second heave and now they only will be impacted if the shot goes in. Fantasy basketball owners will no longer have to worry about someone on their team taking a last second shot that costs them a matchup. That more than anything might be the best part of this whole rule change. 

Finally, I think it would even be better if shots beyond half court were worth four points and not three. The half court line is an easy dividing mark and it's well beyond the 3-point line such that it would make sense to add an extra point for such shots. Imagine a team being down four points with three seconds left and attempting a four-point shot! That would be wildly entertaining. Or a rare five-point play! A guy getting fouled while making a four-point shot. Can you imagine? Not only that, but getting fouled from beyond half court while taking a shot would be worth four foul shots instead of three. This is sort of a next level rule suggestion, but I think it's one that the NBA should consider. Maybe try it out in the G-League first. 

While a four-point shot may not be coming to the NBA, it is good they have implemented this "Heave Rule." There's no downside to it and it will enhance the experience for all. It'll be fun to see the impact it has on this upcoming season! 

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