Bobby Portis has been a fan favorite in Milwaukee for well over half a decade now. He, alongside Giannis, is the heart and soul of the Bucks. Bobby has helped this team accomplish so much, and he’s had so many awesome moments in a green-and-cream jersey. That’s why it’s painful to say it’s time forContinue reading “Bobby Portis, Your Time Has Come”
Author Archives: finleyk24
Predicting the Top 100 NBA Players of the 2026 Season
NBA day is finally upon us! In celebration of what should be a national holiday, I’m delivering the prelude to my favorite annual tradition: my top 100 players list. This is a prediction of what my rankings will look like at the end of the 2025-26 season. I’m projecting the upcoming season alone, assuming healthContinue reading “Predicting the Top 100 NBA Players of the 2026 Season”
2026 NBA Power Rankings
The NBA is so stacked. The vast majority of teams either have playoff-level rosters or enticing young cores. Determining which squads will top the standings in 2025-26 is a tough task, but I gave it a try anyway. Here’s my preseason power ranking of all 30 teams, with placements based on a combination of projectedContinue reading “2026 NBA Power Rankings”
2026 NBA Award Predictions
NBA basketball is less than a month away. Describing that as exciting would be a massive understatement given the absurd amount of talent and competitiveness in the league right now. In celebration of the upcoming season, I’ll be delivering a trio of preseason prediction articles. Today, we’re starting with my award picks. I’ll give myContinue reading “2026 NBA Award Predictions”
5 Two-Way Contract Players Poised to Break Out in 2025-26
Every year, it seems like more and more NBA teams wake up to the idea that two-way contracts are a meaningful pipeline for player development. Twenty-six players were converted from two-way contracts to standard deals during the 2024-25 season, including playoff role players like Scotty Pippen Jr. and Ryan Rollins. Smart teams (Memphis and Miami,Continue reading “5 Two-Way Contract Players Poised to Break Out in 2025-26”
Breaking Down the Knicks Training Camp Battle
The New York Knicks have been busy over the last couple days, working out several free agents and subsequently inking a flurry of training camp deals. The batch of tryout players includes players of all ages and positions, including some former Knicks, setting the stage for an intriguing camp battle. The team has two openContinue reading “Breaking Down the Knicks Training Camp Battle”
Veronica Burton and the Beauty in Simplicity
Veronica Burton has been one of the most improved players in the WNBA throughout the 2025 season. Supercharged by opportunity and belief from coaches in Golden State, she’s grown from a low-efficiency, low-production bench player to an All-Star talent. She averaged 11.9 points and 6.0 assists as the leader for a Valkyries squad that madeContinue reading “Veronica Burton and the Beauty in Simplicity”
Why Olivier Sarr Could Be an Exhibit-10 Gem for the Raptors
NBA training camp is fast approaching, which means Exhibit 10 deals are being signed in flurries. Most players signing these non-guaranteed tryout contracts will end up being cut once preseason is over. However, a few will inevitably crack the final roster on a two-way, or even a standard, deal. Olivier Sarr, who is going campingContinue reading “Why Olivier Sarr Could Be an Exhibit-10 Gem for the Raptors”
2025-26 Breakout Candidate: Cason Wallace
The Oklahoma City Thunder have the brightest future in the NBA, and it’s not just because they’re the reigning champs with a 27-year-old MVP and a 24-year-old All-NBA player. It’s not only because of their stockpile of picks, either. People are sleeping on the fact that Cason Wallace, who is their fourth-most important prospect atContinue reading “2025-26 Breakout Candidate: Cason Wallace”
The Top 75 Defenders in the NBA (2025 Edition)
The offseason is prime time for player rankings. Media giants and small outlets alike crank out top 100 lists (like I did earlier this month) or similar arrangements during the dead period of the news cycle. Many of these lists place emphasis on highlighting the biggest stars in basketball, with offense, box score stats, andContinue reading “The Top 75 Defenders in the NBA (2025 Edition)”
The Bench Mob Blog 