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New York Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
More on Halliburton's historic Game 4
Follow live coverage of tonight's Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals as the Indiana Pacers look to win the series over the New York Knicks and advance to the NBA Finals Getty Images Getty Images Games of 30+ points, 15+ assists, ZERO turnovers in the NBA regular season and postseason... Tyrese Haliburton: 3 (including tonight, first ever in NBA postseason history) 3 (including tonight, first ever in NBA postseason history) Everyone else since 2020: 2 (James Harden, Nikola Jokić) 2 (James Harden, Nikola Jokić) Everyone before Tyrese Haliburton: 3 (LeBron James, Chris Paul, John Stockton) This time of year, everybody's got something. Busted fingers, balky backs, banged-up elbows. It's the cost of admission to May and June basketball, which is the only basketball that should matter. I get that 'Ringz Culture' is derided in our more advanced age of thinking. But we do this every year to find out who the best team is. It's not volunteer/charity hoops. If you're not hurting after damn near 100 games, including the regular season and playoffs, you probably don't deserve to be playing for a championship. That's why no one here was all that surprised when Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith strapped up his sprained ankle and suited up for Game 4 against the New York Knicks. Not just because the 25-year-old Nesmith is a tough cuss. Not just because physical therapy for injuries has never been more detailed or administered by more people on a team's medical and therapy staff than ever. But because the playoffs require you, if you're not dead or you don't have a shredded ligament in your lower extremities, to give it a go. You won't always win, and you won't always play well. But you have to play. Read more on Nesmith and the Pacers below. GO FURTHER In NBA playoffs, playing injured is the expectation. Aaron Nesmith has met the moment Getty Images A few key statistical categories were telling of Game 4's outcome. Indiana outscored the Knicks on the fast break (22-9), in bench scoring (36-21), and points off turnovers (20-9). New York also had 17 turnovers compared to just 11 for Indiana and the Pacers had 29 assists compared to the Knicks 17. The Knicks will need to clean up these areas tonight if they hope to extend their season. Getty Images Jalen Brunson got off to a hot start for the Knicks, scoring 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting in the first half of Game 4. From that point on, he attempted just 10 more shots, finishing with 31 points on 9-of-19 shooting. In the fourth quarter, Brunson uncharacteristically attempted just three shots and his lone make came in the final moments when this game was already decided. Brunson's counting stats at the end of this series will likely look gaudy but it's fair to say this has not been his best series, especially considering the way Indiana has relentlessly attacked him on defense. Getty Images It might have been overshadowed, and rightfully so, by Tyrese Haliburton's spectacular 32-point triple-double. But Pascal Siakam also torched the Knicks once again in Game 4, to the tune of 30 points including an efficient 3-for-4 mark from 3-point range. It's worth noting that this is the same Pascal Siakam who was a very effective No. 2 to Kawhi Leonard on the 2019 Raptors team that won the NBA Finals and that, by Draymond Green's own admission a few days ago, dominated a still-in-his-prime Green in that series. Siakam is averaging 26.0 points per game in this series. Can he help the Pacers close out the Knicks tonight? Tc T.: Pacers have an identity. Fast Pace, shoots the 3-ball well, kill you when you turn it over and they share the ball really well. Knicks have zero identity. Pray for some magic in the 4th quarter is all we do. Nicolas L.: Haliburton had a great game, and deserves his credit, but Mathurin being able to score 20 points in just 12 minutes was huge in this game. I hope he's starting to figure playoff basketball because Indiana is going to need his scoring if (both Indy and OKC move on) they want to win the finals. OKC is one of the few teams that can match the Pacers depth so it's all hands on deck if Indiana wants to final win a NBA title. Nick P.: I haven't heard anyone discuss that maybe there are offenses that can actually *take advantage* of playoff-level defense? Like, the Pacers (especially several of its players) have been largely playing BETTER in the postseason than the regular season the past couple years, and that gets kinda dismissed as 'luck' or they just happen to have some really gutsy guys ...... but what if there are very real reasons that's happening? One of the rules of the playoffs is that systems-heavy-but-lesser-talented teams diminish heavily against the higher threshold of playoff-level defense. Well, what if you had a very strong system that had lots of talent and a playoff-level point guard to not only get around all those hyper-playoff-arms but take advantage of playoff-level aggression? Getty Images Before Eastern Conference Finals: Pacers had two games all year where they had 2 players drop 30+ points in the same game (one of them against the KNICKS in November) Now, it's happened in two games of this Eastern Conference finals: Game 1: Haliburton/Nesmith Haliburton/Nesmith Game 4: Haliburton/Siakam Getty Images Towns went down after a left knee collision late in the fourth quarter. He has been struggling with pain in that knee the past few games and played through it for the final two minutes, though he was struggling. Even when standing on the sidelines at the end of this loss, he was hunched over in discomfort. New York needs Towns to carry its offense when the Pacers take the paint away from Brunson, so the Knicks' best counterpunch might be limited for Game 5. Getty Images Aaron Nesmith showed no signs of being injured in Game 4, some 48 hours after limping around the Pacers locker room after a right ankle sprain he sustained in the third quarter of Game 3. The 25-year-old, who was a game-time decision, drilled his first two 3-point attempts and threw down a fast-break tomahawk dunk in the first quarter that garnered a roar from the crowd. Nesmith finished with 16 points on 5-for-9 shooting in 32 minutes. Mathurin gave Indiana a spark, too. The 2022 No. 6 pick struggled in this series, scoring 11 points combined through the first three games, but he came alive Tuesday to help Indiana push New York to the brink of elimination. Mathurin, who was sidelined last year during the playoffs because of a torn labrum, nailed a midrange jumper just four seconds after he entered the game in the first quarter and totaled 20 points off the bench in 12 minutes. Getty Images The Knicks' season is now on the brink, but they've shown they're capable of winning any of these games. New York had some big defensive stretches and created good 3-point looks at times in the fourth quarter, but the Pacers defense effectively took Brunson out of crunchtime. Brunson couldn't get into the paint once the Knicks clawed back into the game, and Haliburton never lost his pulse on the game. His triple-double was great, but the zero turnovers is the biggest feat. The Knicks' inability to force him into a bad pass has been confounding. They need to win the transition battle to stay alive, and that won't happen if Haliburton is perfect. The Pacers defense has been connected enough to take away New York's primary option in the fourth quarter, and that allows their offense to rely on transition buckets to keep things going when the Knicks get close. It's the reason they could be heading to the NBA Finals, as Haliburton is peaking at just the right time and the Knicks aren't getting nearly enough 3s to keep up with Indiana's stellar offense. Getty Images The celebratory skip said it all. After Haliburton pushed the ball in transition early in the first quarter, the Knicks blew their defensive rotations and somehow left the Pacers' star wide open on the right wing. His teammates on the bench eagerly raised their hands as Haliburton hoisted a 3-pointer. When the ball went through the hoop, Haliburton's body took over as he pranced down the court after giving Indiana a 16-9 lead. The Knicks called a timeout to try to stymie him, but it was to no avail. That 3-pointer was Haliburton's first points of the game, yet it was as if he knew he was beginning to paint a masterpiece. Voted the NBA's most overrated player in The Athletic's annual anonymous player poll released last month, Haliburton had arguably the best game of his career in Tuesday night's victory. The two-time All-Star was 3-for-3 on 3-pointers and scored 15 points in the first quarter — tying the most points he's ever scored in any quarter of a playoff game — and finished with his second playoff triple-double. Haliburton's outing helped move the Pacers within one victory of their first NBA Finals appearance since 2000. Robert B.: The Knicks might be 'one epic game one collapse from a 2-2 series, but they are also one epic game three collapse from being swept. Tc T.: Critical condition. Gonna take a miracle. I'm very disappointed in Brunson. ZERO ability to facilitate at a HIGH LEVEL in this series. Some teams just have your number. At this point, Indiana is just better. Mark T.: They just seem worn down physically, which is why the less utilized players are producing better net ratings. The Pacers play physical, as well as fast. It's a daunting challenge. Hopefully MSG will give them enough adrenaline to force Game 6. Preston M.: The Knicks were built to beat the Celtics. Through a couple of unfortunate circumstances, (Tatum, Kristaps) they did. However, they don't matchup well with the younger, athletic, faster, Pacers. Pacers are just better and have a championship coach in Carlisle. All postseason long, the New York Knicks have pulled a rabbit out of a hat. They've unveiled a card out of their sleeve. They've removed a coin from behind their opponent's ear. New York's postseason run has been somewhat magical, erasing 20-point deficits multiple times, clawing back from down 14 time and time again, and hitting clutch shots from city to city. If the Knicks want to keep their title dreams alive, though, they'll need their greatest magic trick yet. After losing to the Indiana Pacers 130-121 on Tuesday night, New York faces a 3-1 series deficit in the Eastern Conference finals. No team has come back from a 3-1 hole in the Eastern Conference finals since 1981. Read more on New York's final stand below. GO FURTHER The Knicks' season is on life support. Do they have one more trick left? Getty Images If the Pacers make the Finals, and they are favorites to do now that they have a 3-1 lead in this series, the Tyrese Haliburton trade truly goes down as one of the most consequential trades in recent NBA history. Finals teams in the last 25 years that have acquired their best player by trade: 2002-03 Nets (Jason Kidd), 2008/10 Celtics (Kevin Garnett) 2019 Raptors (Kawhi Leonard) These have also led to a title run: 2021 Suns (Chris Paul), 2015-18 Cavaliers (Kevin Love), and the 2004-05 Pistons (Richard Hamilton, Ben Wallace and Rasheed Wallace). No, we're not counting sign-and-trades. Of course, we might soon add the Thunder (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander) to this list, too. Getty Images With 46.1 seconds to play in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals, Indiana Pacers forward Obi Toppin stepped back behind the 3-point line to receive a baseline out-of-bounds pass from Tyrese Haliburton. Without a New York Knicks player anywhere near him, Toppin hit Indiana's 13th 3-pointer, a dagger against his former team. Behind a historic performance from Haliburton, who finished with 32 points, 12 rebounds, 15 assists, four steals and zero turnovers, Indiana is one win away from its first NBA Finals since 2000. The Pacers took a 3-1 lead with the 130-121 win over the Knicks on Tuesday. Read more on Indiana below. GO FURTHER Pacers keep foot on gas, stay perfect in Game 4s as they push Knicks to brink There is no better place to follow all your other favorite teams, leagues and players than on The Athletic. We've got you covered on all things NBA , MLB, NHL and much, much more. And you're in luck — you can subscribe to The Athletic on an exclusive offer here. Getty Images Are the Pacers going to advance to their second NBA Finals in franchise history? Do the Knicks have a chance to get back in this series? We'd love to hear from you on tonight's crucial Game 5. Email us at live@ or click the 'discuss' tab in the score section. We will choose the best contributions for the blog. So get typing, basketball fans. Getty Images Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals is available on TNT. Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Reggie Miller (analyst), Stan Van Gundy (analyst) and Allie LaForce (sideline reporter) are on the call. Getty Images Game 5 of the Knicks-Pacers series tips off at 8 p.m. ET. That's 5 p.m. PT or 1 a.m. in the U.K. Page 2
USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
The Oklahoma City Thunder prove time is just a construct
The Oklahoma City Thunder prove time is just a construct The Oklahoma City Thunder are going to the NBA Finals, thanks to three young stars who've blossomed into something no one could have possibly anticipated. The team has two young guards who can attack the rim with reckless abandon and a tall, lanky forward with a bunch of guard skills at 7 feet tall. The above paragraph is about the 2012 Oklahoma City Thunder, who reached the NBA Finals with an average team age of 25.7 years old. The two guards? Russell Westbrook and James Harden. The lanky forward? Obviously, Kevin Durant. Here's Kenny Smith back in 2012 congratulating that team for making it all the way to the Finals. "Everyone said they were too young. People said they weren't battle-tested and it wasn't time. But they proved them wrong. And, so now, we have the 2012 Western Conference champion Oklahoma City Thunder," Smith said. Replace 2012 with 2025 and you'd basically be able to use the same script. Everyone said this Thunder team was too young to do anything serious. People immediately counted them out despite having the soon-to-be-MVP on the roster along with another All-Star running mate and the league's best defense. It didn't matter. The only thing people could see was this team's age. Now, with an average age 24.7 years old, the 2025 Thunder are the new youngest team to make it to the NBA Finals since the 1977 Portland Trail Blazers, according to Yahoo! Sports. The job isn't finished. We know what happened the last time the Thunder were here. LeBron James' Miami Heat finished their revenge tour for the 2011 Finals in Oklahoma City. The Thunder only won one game despite a brilliant series from Durant. That's probably not happening again. Oklahoma City is the best team in the NBA this season by quite a bit. As of now, the Larry O'Brien trophy is theirs to lose. But that's why we play the games. We'll see if they can finish their breakfast this time. Dynasty calling? The Panthers are headed back to the Stanley Cup Finals, folks. For a third consecutive year, Florida will be playing on the NHL's biggest stage. The path there certainly wasn't easy. The Hurricanes jumped out to a 2-0 lead on Florida and, for a while, it seemed like Carolina's comeback attempt was real. Florida quashed all that with three goals in the second. Game 5 ended in a 5-3 win for Florida. The Prince of Wales Trophy returned home. But they didn't touch it, though! Florida touched the trophy two years ago and lost in the Cup Finals. They refused to touch it last season and won it all. What'll it be this season? We'll find out. The Panthers are just the 7th team in the expansion era to make it to three consecutive Stanley Cup Finals, according to NBC. The last to do it was the Tampa Bay Lightning from 2020 through 2022 — they won two of those series. We'll see if Florida can match them in a few weeks. More CFB 26 The trailer for College Football 26 is here and, MY GOODNESS, it's electric. Guys. A lot is going on in this trailer. But two of the coolest things I picked up on were: Enter the Sandman is on the game now! Shoutout to you, Virginia Tech. High school football seems to be back in the game for Road to Glory. That's fun. Real coaches are in the game now. Spotted Marcus Freeman and Ryan Day in this. Freeman's shapeup is still sharp, even in video game form. Last year's game was a blast. Hopefully, this year won't disappoint. Quick hits: NBA Draft decisions ... Caitlin Clark is still in midseason form ... and more — Here's Bryan Kalbrosky with seven fascinating players who decided to stay in the NBA Draft instead of going back to school. — It turns out Caitlin Clark doesn't need to be in a uniform to complain about officiating. Here's Meg Hall with more. — Cory Woodroof says Falcons fans should be hopeful for Michael Penix Jr. — Stefon Diggs' latest boat controversy is, uh, fascinating. Charles Curtis has details. — I don't know how I'd react to tearing my Achilles but I imagine it'd be much like this. — Lane Kiffin and Paul Finebaum are such an incredible combination. That's a wrap. Thanks for reading today. Peace. ✌️ This is For The Win's daily newsletter, The Morning Win. Did a friend recommend or forward this to you? If so, subscribe here. This was Mike Sykes.
USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Fanatics Sportsbook Promo: Get Up to $1000 in Bonuses for Thunder, Panthers Finals Quests
Fanatics Sportsbook Promo: Get Up to $1000 in Bonuses for Thunder, Panthers Finals Quests The NBA and Stanley Cup Finals can each gain their first entrants tonight if the Thunder and Panthers can post Game 5 wins in their respective conference finals. You can bet on both of these matchups or on anything else on tonight's schedule with the Fanatics Sportsbook promo and receive up to $300 in bonus bets or $1,000 in No Sweat Bets. The sportbsook promos available at Fanatics Sportsbook vary depending on your location: If you're a new bettor in Arizona, Michigan, New Jersey or Pennsylvania, you'll collect $300 in bonus bets just for placing $30 in first bets over the next three days. If you're in Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia or West Virginia, you're guaranteed $250 in bonus bets just for playing $50 in first bets over five days. If you sign up and you're in New York, you'll gain a 300% profit-boost token to attach to any bet you want. And anybody (except New York residents) can choose the classic Fanatics Sportsbook welcome offer that grants you as much as $1,000 in No Sweat Bets over a 10-day stretch. The Thunder are seeking their first trip to the finals since 2012, when Kevin Durant, James Harden and Russell Westbrook and Co. beat the Spurs in the Western Conference finals to advance. OKC lost to the Heat in five games in the Finals that season. This year, the Thunder are expecting much more – as are the sports betting apps like Fanatics Sportsbook, which lists OKC as a -390 favorite to win the title. You can bet on tonight's games after signing up with the Fanatics Sportsbook promo. Click any of the BET NOW buttons on this page to get started. Fanatics Sportsbook Promo: Up to $300 Bonus or $1000 in No Sweat Bets 📱 Fanatics Sportsbook Promo Code Click Here 🤑 Fanatics Sportsbook Promo Bet $30, Get $300 (AZ, MI, NJ, PA) / Bet $50, Get $250 (CO, IL, IN, LA, MA, MD, NC, OH, TN, VA, WV) / Up to $1000 in No Sweat Bets (all states but NY) / 300% Profit Boost (NY) ✅ Terms and conditions New customers 21 and older in AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WV, WY; 1x playthrough on bonus bets ✔️ Last verified May 28, 2025 The Panthers, seeking their third consecutive trip to the Stanley Cup Final, will take their second shot at advancing after the Hurricanes averted the sweep with a 3-0 victory in Game 4 on Monday. The shutout loss snapped a string of four straight games during which Florida scored five or more goals. It also snapped a streak of 15 straight losses in the conference final round by the Hurricanes. Fanatics Sportsbook offers terrific lines on all their NHL odds, which includes the ability to wager on whether elite goal-scorers like Andrei Svechnikov, Alexander Barkov or Sam Reinhart will light the lamp tonight. Best Bets with the Fanatics Sportsbook Promo: Wednesday, May 28 MLB: Braves at Phillies, 6:45 p.m. Braves at Phillies, 6:45 p.m. WNBA: Fever at Mystics, 7:30 p.m. Fever at Mystics, 7:30 p.m. NBA: Timberwolves at Thunder, 8:30 Timberwolves at Thunder, 8:30 NHL: Panthers at Hurricanes, 8 p.m. Panthers at Hurricanes, 8 p.m. MLB: Yankees at Angels, 9:38 p.m. Baseball's hottest team is the Yankees, who have used a 15-4 run to build the sport's biggest division lead. Their 3-2 victory over the Angels on Tuesday night was their fourth straight and pushed their lead in the AL East to seven games. They will look for the sweep tonight with Clarke Schmidt on the mound against the Angels' Yusei Kikuchi before opening a three-game World Series rematch with the Dodgers on Friday in LA. 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Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Derik Queen on the one NBA move he'd like to ‘download'
Derik Queen on the one NBA move he'd like to 'download' | The Kevin O'Connor Show Yahoo Sports senior NBA analyst Kevin O'Connor sits down with the former Maryland center to discuss what skill he would most want to take from a current NBA star. Hear the full conversation on 'The Kevin O'Connor Show' and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen. View more Video Transcript You could download a move from any player, current or former and install it into your game immediately, what would that specific move be? Advertisement Let me see, I by that, by that James Harden moved the twin twin guard, OK, yeah, OK, prime Harden, being able to get to that shot. OK, so you've always liked Harden then. What did you like about James Harden's game growing up? He, he was so like he was so nice like he, uh. Houston, um, he was winning in Houston. Uh, people say he, he didn't have the guys in Houston. Well, he, he, he made it far every year. MVP average, averaged 40, um, and, and, and, uh, and, um, in one month he was, um, he was killing, yeah, like 60, 40, yeah, like the lowest he score was 27, like 8 straight games or something like that and then like. Advertisement Like he's like, I just like nice players. He was unstoppable at one point offensively. I mean, I think like people criticize him for, you know, some lows in the playoffs and not winning in the postseason, but like he pushed the Warriors to the brink, like the juggernaut Warriors with Kay. Like they went deep into the postseason. They challenged the Warriors more than anybody did. Yeah, he actually should have won it, but they missed like 22 stretch and then another Chris Paul got hurt. I mean, it's like sometimes it's just, you know, poor fortune for you in the postseason. It just happens.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ivica Zubac reflects on breakout year, Jokic battles, and more in Basketball Network exclusive
Ivica Zubac just wrapped up the best season of his NBA career — one where he broke personal records, logged heavy minutes, and held his own against the league's elite bigs. The Los Angeles Clippers' center finished second in Most Improved Player voting, came in sixth in Defensive Player of the Year and quietly led the entire NBA in both total offensive and defensive rebounds, all while averaging career-best 16.8 points on an elite efficiency. In an exclusive conversation with Basketball Network, "Big Zu" opened up about the team's underdog mentality coming into the season, playing alongside James Harden and going toe-to-toe with Nikola Jokic, whom he believes is the best player in the Association. Advertisement Oh, and he let us in on a not-so-secret truth — Lakers fans still haven't forgiven their front office for letting him go so easily. Q: At the start of the season, many people had the Clippers as a play-in team at best. Paul George was gone in the offseason, Kawhi Leonard's availability was uncertain, and James Harden's MVP days seemed behind him. From the inside, how did you guys experience that perception? Did you feel underrated? Absolutely. I mean, come on, everyone sees social media, everyone knows the narrative around us. We saw how many projected wins they gave us. We were aware of it. People overlooked us, no doubt about that. It was definitely a motivation for us. We knew we could be a good team based on our roster and the players we had. However, we didn't expect Kawhi to miss that many games early on — we thought he'd be back sooner. Advertisement But from day one of training camp, we built a defense-first mentality. We knew we had to be aggressive on defense and become one of the best defensive teams if we wanted a shot at the playoffs. That mindset carried us. On top of that, we had the extra motivation of being underestimated by pretty much everyone. And deep down, we knew we had more talent and quality than people gave us credit for. Everything clicked, and in the end, the regular season turned out to be a success — 50 wins. Not many people saw that coming, especially considering Kawhi missed around 40 games. So yeah, I'd say the regular season was a success. Q: It was indeed a success, both for the team and for you personally. This is now your second season playing alongside Harden — what's it like playing with a player of that caliber, and how has he made your job on the court easier? Especially with those pick-and-rolls that you worked to perfection. A lot. I've never had a point guard who's so pass-first. I mean, Harden is more known as a scorer, but at this stage of his career, he's really focused on being a playmaker — getting everyone involved and making things easier for the whole team. Advertisement From day one, when he joined us, he'd pull me aside and say, "Come on, let's go do 20 minutes of pick-and-roll against the coaches, just 2-on-2." They'd switch up coverages — sometimes trap, sometimes hedge, drop, or switch. We'd read the defense and play against it. And we did that every day for 15–20 minutes. You could see the results in the games — we had answers for any kind of defense thrown at us. We were ready for everything. Beyond just the pick-and-roll, he knows exactly where I like to get the ball — which side of the post, that pocket pass — he finds me there. He watches a lot of film, and he knows every guy's preferences: where they like to get the ball, what kinds of shots they're comfortable with, which defenses they excel against. That's what he brings us more than anything. That might be his most valuable trait. He's incredibly smart, understands what works for each player, and tries to simplify the game for everyone around him. Q: At first glance, he might come off as nonchalant, but whenever someone talks about Harden, it's nothing but flowers for the former MVP. Yeah, yeah, before he joined us, there was a lot of talk that he wasn't a hard worker, that he was a bad teammate — but it's actually the complete opposite. I can't believe that's what people were saying. He's the total opposite. A hard worker, one of the best teammates I've ever had, and it's a joy to play with him and share a locker room. Advertisement Q: This season was the first time you played over 30 minutes per game (32.8). Was that mainly due to injuries and a lack of available players, or did Ty Lue and his coaching staff let you know before the season that it was going to be that way? They had already signaled that back in last year's playoffs, when I started playing over 30 minutes and the offense began running through me more. For the first time, they really went to me in the post, and that's when it became clear my role would grow. After the season ended, the GM, the team president, and Ty Lue all told me the same thing — that I'd have a bigger role, that I should prepare for it and be ready. And when we didn't re-sign Paul George, it really opened up opportunities for other guys to step up. I mean, you have to make up for the 25 points he was putting up, and that gave the rest of us more shots, more responsibility. I knew going into the summer that the situation would be like that. So I prepared accordingly — I worked all summer on my post game, knowing I'd be getting a lot of touches down low, and I focused a lot on conditioning and strength training because I knew I'd be playing a lot more minutes than in previous years. Q: At what point, when you entered this season with the expectation of stepping into somewhat of a leadership role, did you realize you were having the best season of your career — not just a very good stretch — but that you were actually one of the most consistent and best centers in the league? From the very first game, I could feel things were going to be different — that I'd be getting more touches. I opened the season with three straight 20-point games, and that was the first time in my life I started a season like that. That's when I realized things had shifted, that I was going to have more opportunities. Advertisement I understood that with those minutes and that many low-post touches, plus more shot attempts, I had to fully commit to recovery and strength to survive the entire season. I really focused on that. You go through stretches where you're so exhausted you don't even care who you're playing against or what's going on—you just want to finish the game. So, I felt early on that it was going to be different after those first three games, and from that point, I completely changed my mentality and some of my habits to adapt and handle the pace. Q: It was clear from the start, and by the end, in a way, that recognition came too. You finished second in the Most Improved Player race, sixth in Defensive Player of the Year voting, and there was even talk about your first All-Star nod. Yeah, I hoped I would win it (MIP). After the All-Star break, when I got that week off, I caught a bit of a second wind. I felt better physically, and that's when I was able to take another step and elevate my game to a new level. Q: Just like the entire Clippers team, it felt like you guys shifted into a higher gear after the All-Star break and started building momentum for the playoffs. Yeah, in those last 20 to 25 games, we really looked good. It could've ended better, but hey... that's how it goes sometimes. Advertisement Q: At the trade deadline Bogdan Bogdanovic came in — one of the guys from the same region as you, from the Balkans. On social media, it looked like you two really clicked. What was the dynamic like when he arrived? Bogi was great for us. As soon as the trade happened, he messaged me on Instagram, like, "Send me your number." He reached out right away. When he got to L.A., we went out for a drink immediately… We didn't really know each other that well before; we weren't close or anything, but we slowly became really good friends. We hang out every day — sometimes at his place, sometimes at mine. On the road, we were always together, going to restaurants, spending time — we really did spend a lot of time together. And we had good chemistry on the court, too, even though we had never played together before. We understood each other's game well. The Clippers didn't just use him as a shooter — he handled the ball a lot in pick-and-rolls, and that's where we really clicked. It felt like we had been playing together forever. He gave me a lot of confidence, and I think I did the same for him. It's tough when you're the only guy from your part of the world, surrounded by all foreigners, without someone who speaks your language. It's just different when you can sit on the bench with someone, vent in your own language, and get real feedback from someone who gets it. He helped me a lot, and I'm sure it was good for him too. I'd really love for that to continue. Advertisement He's a great guy, and the vibe around the team really lifted when he arrived — he was truly great for us. I hope we can keep that going next year as well. Q: He definitely brought a lot to the team, and for you personally… I mean, he "gave you" your first career triple-double against Houston. What was that feeling like? Was it planned for him to finish the play with that shot? We were up by a lot, I already had nine assists, and there were about two minutes left when Ty Lue wanted to sub me out. And that's when I told him, me and whole bench stood up, "Let him get the triple-double." Normally, he doesn't like doing that. Earlier this season, against the Lakers, he benched me when I had 21 points and 19 rebounds. I asked him if I could stay to get one more rebound, but he didn't want to, so he gave me this one as a reward. Advertisement We ran a play for me to post up because they were double-teaming me, so I could kick the ball out to someone and get an assist. But the Rockets threw the ball away, it went out of bounds, and I told Bogi, "Bogi, I'll give you the ball, just shoot it no matter what, try to score, but just shoot it..." We had players on the court who don't usually play. They were cold since they just came in. I said, "I'm giving you the ball, just shoot and see what happens." He set a screen for me so I could grab the ball out of bounds and then came back. I handed him the ball, he rose up over the defense, everyone knew he was going to shoot — it was a really tough shot. The ball spun around the rim and somehow went in. I was really happy. I never expected to get a triple-double, but I'm really glad I did, and that last assist was for him. He made that shot. I even have the game ball engraved... One of the best moments of this season for sure. Q: There's one player who normalized the triple-double from the center position. Let's touch on that bitter part of the season — what was it like playing a seven-game series against Nikola Jokic? Knowing everything would go through him, how hard was that night after night? It's tough. Especially when you're playing 35-40 minutes in the playoffs, when the game slows down, and most of the game is half-court basketball instead of transition. You know everything's going to go through him even more than usual, and that's seven games. Honestly, it was really hard. In my opinion, he's the best player in the league, and every possession, every defensive play, you have to give 100%. Advertisement He's very strong, so it's physically demanding. You go through defensive challenges that no other center usually faces. He handles the ball in pick-and-rolls, they set pindowns for him, flare screens, he plays in the post, works from the elbow, and even 1-on-1 from the free-throw line. You really face a million things that centers normally don't have to deal with. You have to completely change your mindset and philosophy about how you defend as a center, just to try to contain him. So it's both physically and mentally very demanding. You can't relax for a second, you always have to think ahead. You know every play, you know what's coming, and you have to be ready for everything. It's really tough. Q: So, he's definitely the hardest player for you to guard? Yeah, definitely... As a center, yes. I don't count guards because I don't usually switch onto them — that's a different story — but as a center, he's definitely the hardest to defend. Because he really puts you through things you don't face against anyone else. The defensive rules against him are completely different. Q: That series against the Nuggets was a war. What do you feel was the deciding factor in those series? Was it the Aaron Gordon's put back dunk? Well, I think that's it. We were up 2-1, and I think that game was the turning point because we really started that game poorly. After the third game, there was a lot in the media, their players said they were injured and having problems, and that's when we saw we had to come out strong because they looked ready to give up... Advertisement They took a 22-point lead, but we came back. If the game had lasted maybe a minute longer, I think we would have definitely won, but unfortunately, a fraction of a second kept us from overtime. When they won that game, it gave them confidence, a boost of momentum, and everything changed. It's a shame — that was our best chance in Game 4 to break the series. Q: Where do you place Jokic on the all-time list of players and centers? Hmm, it's hard to say. I've never played against those other guys we usually count among the top 5 centers — like Shaq, Hakeem, Kareem... Considering everything Jokic has achieved — a championship, three MVPs, Finals MVP, so many All-Star appearances, First Team, All-NBA selections — I think he's definitely in the top 5 centers, maybe even higher. Advertisement I wouldn't dare rank him among the greatest players ever just yet, because he's still in his prime, has a lot of basketball left to play, and will win many more awards and honors. So maybe I'll be ready to do that at the end of his career. But for sure, he's already top 5 among centers. Q: Since we're on the topic of individual awards, who do you think will win the MVP — Shai or Jokic? I think Shai will take it this year, but I'd vote for Jokic. I believe Jokic had the better individual season, though Shai is really an excellent player. I played with him during his first year with the Clippers, so I'd be happy for him if he wins, but individually, I think Jokic had the stronger season. Who votes, I don't know how that will go… The whole season, there's been talk about Shai. It wouldn't be wrong if either of them wins — both deserve it. I'd definitely give my vote to Jokic. We'll see, but I think in the end it'll be Shai. Advertisement Q: Since we're talking about those first years with the Clippers, do you think the Lakers regret giving up a center like you? Because it seems like you are exactly the type of player they're missing right now. I know the fans definitely regret it... Every day when I go out, at least once a day, I hear about that trade and Mike Muscala... This is Lakers city and most people here are Lakers fans, so I hear about that trade every day. How they wish I was still on the team, how I'd be perfect for them now since they don't have a center. But for me, it worked out well. Back then, I didn't play much there, I didn't have much of a role, and then I got a much bigger role — I was a starter from the start with the Clippers. So in the end, it turned out great for me. Whether the club regrets it now, I don't know, but I do know the fans do. Q: Hardly anyone predicted this kind of playoff scenario in the NBA, but now that only four teams remain, who do you see as the winner? From the regular season, I really liked Indiana. The way they played, and they actually beat us both times we played this year — they're a really good team and well put together. I'm not sure if it's enough to win it all though... Advertisement The Knicks are good, too. They're a typical playoff team that relies on 6-7 key players — veteran playoff guys with experience. Then you have Oklahoma, which dominated most of the regular season, but Denver pushed them to seven games, so they're not unbeatable. Minnesota — I'd give them the least chance. But I don't know, I think this is the year everything has opened up for Oklahoma. They were like Boston or Cleveland during the season, out of the playoffs, and now their path to the title seems open. We'll see how they hold up after that seven-game series against the Nuggets. They're in rhythm, and that matters. If I had to pick, I'd put my money on Oklahoma. But I wouldn't be surprised if any of these teams won, and there's a reason for that. There really isn't a clear favorite. We will keep an eye on "Zu" Zubac's growth—both as a player and a leader—was one of the brightest storylines in a Clippers season full of twists and overachievement, but unfortunately, it ended in heartbreak. While individual accolades came just so close, it's clear his eyes are still locked on bigger goals. And if he keeps trending this way, there's no doubt he'll get there — we'll be watching.
