Latest news with #JustinEdwards
Forbes
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Creating Costumes For Teen True Love In Netflix's 'Forever'
Justin Edwards (Michael Cooper Jr.) and Keisha Clark (Lovie Simone) star in "Forever" on Netflix. Credit: Elizabeth Morris/Netflix © 2024 Elizabeth Morris/Netflix Tanja Caldwell designed the wonderful costumes for Mara Block Ali's Netflix series, Forever. But before that, it feels important to mention the source material on which the series is based. The novel, which has almost the same name, was first published in 1975, by beloved American author Judy Bloom. (Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret was also by Blume.) Forever-the-book won the Margaret A. Edwards Award in 1996, for its 'significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature,' and in 2019 was included in the BBC's list of the 100 Most Inspiring Novels. But regardless of its many commendations, the novel, intended for older teenagers, remains one of the 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books according to the American Library Association, 50 years after its original date of publication. Why? Because the book discusses sex and acknowledges that teenagers might be competent to both engage in the act and be able to deal with whatever consequences might arise afterwards. The reason the book resonated with teens in the 1970s and the 1990s is the same reason that the series resonates with viewers right now; it is a story that respects the voices of its young characters. In her adaptation, Ali made a point of conveying that respect, and of never looking down on her characters simply because they are young. Tiffany (Paigion Walker), Christian (Xavier Mills), Brittany (Adriyan Rae), and Shelly Clark (Xosha Roquemore) . Cr. Elizabeth Morris/Netflix © 2024. Elizabeth Morris/Netflix 'That was very important to Mara,' Caldwell told me, 'it was very important to Regina, who directed the first episode and was one of the executive producers, and all the directors that came on. Everyone, with Mara's lead, was about making it real and genuine to the time and to the people, the adults and especially the young people who are our main characters in this series. It was important to show that growth throughout. I think it's important to show young people in the diversity that they have, even at a young age. I think that gets them interested in their own storytelling, when we tell them in a way that's real and genuine to them.' [Caldwell, I need to tell you, was an assistant costume designer on Black Panther and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, working under the incomparable Ruth Carter. It is so cool, I had to make sure you knew this.] Forever takes place in 2018 and 2019, a time which, post-Covid, feels almost technicolor in its innocence. These are also years that many members of Gen Z, the generation immediately following us millennials, spent in high school. Seven or eight years later those kids are all adults. Caldwell understood this, and she worked very hard to make her costumes Los Angeles in exactly those two years. Her research was incredibly extensive and the costumes reflect this fact, they are better for her diligent attentions but they never pull from the action occurring in a scene. Justin Edwards (Michael Cooper Jr.), Keisha Clark (Lovie Simone), Chloe (Ali Gallo), Aunt Katherine (Polly Draper) , Uncle Michael (Tim Bohn), and Jeanine (Sherri Saum) at the beach in episode five. Credit: Elizabeth Morris/Netflix © 2024 Elizabeth Morris/Netflix 'There are significant fashion differences between 2018-2019 and today,' Caldwell said, 'but there are also a lot of similarities. It was really important to make some distinguishing wardrobe options and choices, but we also were able to still play with more modern fashion, which helped us out a lot. The process for me really is discovery and research, about these different characters from the script, but also what young culture was in LA at that time.' Wardrobe on any production is a blend of apparel purchased, rented, tailored, remade, made from scratch. This show was no different, but needing clothing that was from a specific window of time, less than a decade old, meant the costume designer spent a lot of time in Los Angeles vintage stores. 'It was fun to dabble in vintage things, archive things, rare sneakers, rare t-shirts, things of that nature,' she told me when I asked about this. 'It was really fun to dig. When I was a teenager, I really loved vintage, I loved shopping for vintage. I think what I loved more than anything was the hunt, when you were able to find something really beautiful, really amazing, or more than one piece, and it was in great condition, or if it was a designer piece and in your size, so you just so happen to be able to fit it in.' Justin Edwards (Michael Cooper Jr.) and Keisha Clark (Lovie Simone) begin to bond in "Forever." Credit: Elizabeth Morris/Netflix © 2024 Elizabeth Morris/Netflix Figuring out who each character is, what they would wear and why, is something worked out between more than one person. The script might be specific about clothing, the showrunner and/or director will have thoughts, the production designer and the scenes they stage will impact how costumes read. Actor spend a lot of time figuring out who they are portraying, and for some performers that involves collaborating with the costume designer. It's a lot to think about and remember. 'Part of what I love about costume design is the research,' Caldwell said to me with a smile, deflecting my praise with precision. 'The discovery, who these characters are and how we see them through a lens of fashion, what will be distinguishing about their characters. One thing I talked about with Mara was creating somewhat of a uniform for Justin. Not that he was wearing the exact same thing, but if you look, you'll see most of the time he has a certain uniformity to what he's wearing.' 'He's always in Dickies,' the designer continued, 'different colors, some may be shorter or longer or more narrow or a little more aged. But he's always in Dickies, some form of a t-shirt, whether it's a plain shirt or it's a band shirt or something with a subliminal message on it. Then he's got a flannel shirt or some type of second layer, which I think is really indicative of Los Angeles culture. Layering is a big thing out here, just with the change of the weather.' Justin Edwards (Michael Cooper Jr.) in an awesome Dr. Dre tee from Episode 1 of "Forever." Credit: Hilary Bronwyn Gayle/Netflix © 2024 Hilary Bronwyn Gayle, SMPSP/Netflix When she was reading the script, the costume designer told me, she could feel the influence on Justin's character from his parents. She thought this might be something that would peek into his wardrobe, a tiny bit. 'His mother, especially,' Caldwell said. 'Whether he wants it or not, her influence, her hand on him is extremely close and heavy. I thought, if she's buying his clothes and she's watching him that closely, she's make sure he does his homework, she's got a tutor for him. She stays in touch with everything that he has going on. She's going to have some hands on his clothes. He's not going to have ripped distressed jeans with a lot of holes, w he's always going to look clean and put together, but still having his thumbprint on it some way, somehow.' 'With Karen Pittman's character, Justin's mother, having to be so strict because she loves him so much, maybe even a little bit to her fault, maybe a little bit overbearing. I think she still wants her son to show up in the world a certain way, that's how my parents were. You have some freedom to express yourself. But there are certain things in fashion, certain trends that you're allowed to do at this age and others you're not allowed to do, that's not the type of image you want to present yourself at this age or under my roof. These are the standards. I feel like that was more or less the way Justin's mother influences his style. His dad, I think he's the good cop. He doesn't say a lot, but when he speaks to his son, he always says something really profound and you just get it and there are some similarities in even the way that they dress. Even in the sweatshirts and hoodies, dad usually is very well put together, but he has this laid back feel. He's never super buttoned up or stuffy, but he doesn't look drabby or disheveled either. I think that's part of him being a chef and also an artist. I think that's why he may understand his son a little bit better.' Justin Edwards (Michael Cooper Jr.) and Darius (Niles Fitch) in personalized variation of their school uniforms. Credit: Elizabeth Morris/Netflix © 2024 Elizabeth Morris/Netflix As my regular readers will know, I am fascinated by uniforms, by the many, many ways there are to make or source garments en masse. I do love the challenge of military uniforms, but the sort worn to private schools offer similar challenges. 'We bought a ton of uniforms in the beginning,' Caldwell told me, 'because we knew we were going to need a multitude of them for background. We got a multitude of sizes. But before we even did that, we locked down with production, Mara especially, what the colors of the school are. Because there's a whole lot of work that goes into just clearing the name of a school and the colors that you use.' This is what I mentioned a little earlier, how no decision can be made independently of others. Telling stories on film is, by the nature of the medium, a collaborative art form. 'Once we decide what the colors are and what the name of the school is,' Caldwell told me, 'then we go out and we purchase from a uniform store. Then we go out and buy things for the main characters, just to add a little zhuzh to their particular uniform. But in this case, we tried to keep it really true to what it really is in LA. And a lot of private schools give you certain guidelines, on certain days you can wear this, and on certain days you can't. We were modeling their school off of a school that Mara and her nieces or nephews had actually gone to in Los Angeles. We tried to keep to what those standards and rules were. They all had their own little something because I think that's important.' Keisha Clark (Lovie Simone) in her school's uniform. Courtesy of Netflix Our main characters, Justin Edwards and Keisha Clark, don't attend the same high school, though they both do go to schools in LA. 'So, different colors and also two different standards of what the procedures are for those uniforms,' Caldwell reminded me. 'We did that research, and then we came about it organically. We tried on a bunch of different versions, the vest with the skirt, the vest with the plain skirt versus the plaid skirt. Her school didn't have a blazer. His school did, but didn't feel right for him but it felt great for Darius.' I asked the designer what she was concerned about most for Forever, what part of her job seemed to be most vitally attached to the arc the characters follow. 'For me, it was about trying not to draw so far outside the lines. I wanted to still be real and honest. And I love that the kids can wear their own sneakers, we definitely played that up with both of them. We definitely went in on the shoes. I think that was important, I think It's important to see representations of ourselves at every stage of life. If art is to imitate life, and vice versa, we have to show all those different stages, and we need to show it in the rawest, realest way. I think that sometimes we can be persuaded or influenced to show things in a way that we think we know it to be, not what it really is. So it is all about discovery and asking questions and observing people.' While I watched the series I kept noticing small things, like the way that the sportswear the teens wear after school at practice is carefully curated to the character who wears it. 'That's the thing about costume design,' Caldwell told me when I asked her about this,'just about everything is intentional, whether the viewer is aware of it or not.' How did this work practically? I was very curious, because things never happen on screen by accident, and when I see consistency across time, like I saw over and over in this series, I know it is because a person made certain that it did. The designer told me how she used color to subtly nod to the character wearing each costume. Tammy (Emyri Crutchfield) and Keisha Clark (Lovie Simone) in Episode 1 of "Forever." Credit: Elizabeth Morris/Netflix © 2024 Elizabeth Morris/Netflix 'For Tammy,' Caldwell explained, 'we put more in these darker muted colors, but they were still rich. We kept Keisha in the bright fluorescents, just because she's the star not only of the show, but she's also the star of the team. She's really pushing herself to get on a university track team and get that scholarship so she can attend. So I wanted her to stand out, even amongst her peers, when she was running. Even when she was with Christian at the Nike camp, I wanted her to seem bright. When she's at the Canyon, which worked really well because it was dawn, she's in a fluorescent orange, two-piece sports bra and matching shorts. When she's first running against Tammy and wins, she's in a fluorescent yellow Nike bra top and Nike shorts.' I asked Caldwell if she would tell me about something she was really proud of, something she figured out or made happen for Forever. There are so many more solutions than we are conditioned to see, and costume design is excellent proof that I am correct. A dozen costume designers presented with the same challenge would come back with a dozen different ways of making it happen. So, while working on this Netflix series, Caldwell generously told me this story, 'This was a really crazy story and something you don't see as much. We were doing interstitials, towards episode eight, Instagram shots that you see really quick that helps us pass time. There is a shirt that we actually made, one that we found, that was vintage,' the designer told me. 'We had to get it made because we needed multiples of it. And later we ended up revisiting it in a scene with Keisha and with Justin. ' 'In those shots,' Caldwell explained, 'Mara was putting them at a Little Uzi Vert concert. We went and found the Little Uzi Vert tour t-shirts from 2018, 2019, saw what those shirts looked like, and we really tried to get them. We only found one or maybe two. Scouring the world, you know, Etsy and vintage shops online and here in LA. The one thing about vintage is that when you're not looking for it, that's when you find it. If you look for something, you never find it. A few of them we had to recreate because we didn't have enough to place on all four actors. Costume designer Tanja Caldwell. Courtesy of Tanja Caldwell 'What's great about our process is in the beginning of prep, we were able to just start collecting a lot of beautiful vintage things. LA still has quite a few really great vintage stores that still collect, an assortment of really great tees in great condition. That was something from the research, in 2018, 2019, what did band tees look like? What concerts were going on? What artists were big then that teenagers were listening to?' Would she be willing to share any names of the places she likes to shop for vintage. 'I'm not a gatekeeper,' the designer said to me with a laugh. 'I like to share information because I like to get their information back. 'We found some really good t-shirts at American Rag on Melrose,' she continued. 'They're always really helpful and were really great, especially with Justin's band tees. They have a great assortment of vintage; skater, hip hop, old vintage Ralph Lauren… It was a really one-stop shop that we could go to. There's a really great shop, Virgo, that I love personally. It's in downtown LA and the owner is this really special young woman who started it. I go there to shop and I love their stuff.' When the last episode of Forever came to a close, I desperately wanted to warn the characters that Covid-19 was coming. That is how real these characters and story feel; the suspension of disbelief is as seamless as the costumes Tanja Caldwell designed for the series. 'I'm just really fortunate that I was able to be a part of it,' said the designer. All episodes of season one of Forever are available to stream on Netflix.
Business Upturn
16-05-2025
- Business
- Business Upturn
WITHERITE LAW GROUP AWARDED OVER $127,000 TO DUNBAR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THROUGH 2025 ‘MAKING A DIFFERENCE' SCHOLARSHIP
By GlobeNewswire Published on May 16, 2025, 23:16 IST FORT WORTH, TX, May 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Witherite Law Group and 1-800-TruckWreck awarded $127,500 to 51 graduating seniors from Fort Worth's Dunbar High School this morning through its annual 'Making a Difference' Scholarship. Now in its 11th year, the scholarship program continues to expand its impact, with every Dunbar student who applied this year receiving a scholarship. The $2,500 awards are renewable annually if students maintain a 2.5 GPA and enroll in at least 12 credit hours. The event began with a musical prelude performed by the Dunbar High School band, followed by a welcome from Principal Justin Edwards. During his remarks, Edwards acknowledged the longstanding commitment of Witherite Law Group and Amy Witherite's deep involvement in the Dunbar community, stating, 'Amy Witherite not only talks the talk, she walks the walk—and she's been there with us every step of the way.' The partnership with Dunbar High School started in 2014, and since then, Witherite Law Group and 1-800-TruckWreck have awarded 404 scholarships and renewed 398 scholarships total—an investment of approximately $1,990,000 across all schools supported by the firm—helping propel graduates into careers in nursing, engineering, aviation, and more. This year's recipients represent a diverse range of aspirations, from electrical engineering to health care. The Making a Difference Scholarship recipients for 2025 include: S'nia Harmon, Brianna Weathersby, Za'ryah Blaylock, Tichina Steadman, Ja'Naria Justice, Zharich Leon Esparza, Graciela De Leon, Angelina Maldonado, Andre Edwards, Josiane Twizere, Makaila Smith, Umutoni Esperance, Eliza Amosi, Cameran Wiley, Dinah Uwiringimana, Jocelin Williams, Raymond Whitney, Alton Warren, Kalani Lawson, Luis Beltran, Kamel Lee, Mayra Perez, Xander Thomas, Grace Jones, Maali Williams-Surles, Kingston Clark, Chloe Ware, Angel Aguilar, Jaiden Wilson, Nickolas Stein, Quinnshon Wilson, Aaleiyah Sherman, Kevin Garcia, Kimberly Estrada, Braedyn Snow, Jaida Williams, Tiarra Dee, Jayla Rodriguez, Dayanara Baeza, Devani Vasquez, Jaslynn Sanders, Ja'leel Johnson, Jose Corpus, Marielle Maldonado, Krishawn Evans, Logan Caise, Monserrat Santillan, Amber Sanchez, Jeslyn Altamirano, Dayin Watson, Ntama Niyibitanga. In addition to awarding scholarships, Witherite Law Group sponsors numerous Dunbar initiatives such as Dads of Dunbar Mentoring Program, Senior Decision Day, Muffins with Moms, the Athletic Banquet, Teacher Appreciation, and the Top 10 Luncheon. Their presence and support have become a staple in the school's culture and student development. As a special moment during the event, the Fort Worth Police Department honored Amy Witherite with the Unsung Hero Award for her unwavering commitment to education and community service. 'Most people cannot afford college outright, so scholarships can be a lifeline for students,' said Witherite. 'We are proud to support these remarkable students as they take the next step toward their futures.' Attachments Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same. GlobeNewswire provides press release distribution services globally, with substantial operations in North America and Europe.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
WITHERITE LAW GROUP AWARDED OVER $127,000 TO DUNBAR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THROUGH 2025 ‘MAKING A DIFFERENCE' SCHOLARSHIP
2025 'Making a Difference' Scholarship Recipients Fort Worth Police Department honored Amy Witherite FORT WORTH, TX, May 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Witherite Law Group and 1-800-TruckWreck awarded $127,500 to 51 graduating seniors from Fort Worth's Dunbar High School this morning through its annual 'Making a Difference' Scholarship. Now in its 11th year, the scholarship program continues to expand its impact, with every Dunbar student who applied this year receiving a scholarship. The $2,500 awards are renewable annually if students maintain a 2.5 GPA and enroll in at least 12 credit hours. The event began with a musical prelude performed by the Dunbar High School band, followed by a welcome from Principal Justin Edwards. During his remarks, Edwards acknowledged the longstanding commitment of Witherite Law Group and Amy Witherite's deep involvement in the Dunbar community, stating, 'Amy Witherite not only talks the talk, she walks the walk—and she's been there with us every step of the way.' The partnership with Dunbar High School started in 2014, and since then, Witherite Law Group and 1-800-TruckWreck have awarded 404 scholarships and renewed 398 scholarships total—an investment of approximately $1,990,000 across all schools supported by the firm—helping propel graduates into careers in nursing, engineering, aviation, and more. This year's recipients represent a diverse range of aspirations, from electrical engineering to health care. The Making a Difference Scholarship recipients for 2025 include: S'nia Harmon, Brianna Weathersby, Za'ryah Blaylock, Tichina Steadman, Ja'Naria Justice, Zharich Leon Esparza, Graciela De Leon, Angelina Maldonado, Andre Edwards, Josiane Twizere, Makaila Smith, Umutoni Esperance, Eliza Amosi, Cameran Wiley, Dinah Uwiringimana, Jocelin Williams, Raymond Whitney, Alton Warren, Kalani Lawson, Luis Beltran, Kamel Lee, Mayra Perez, Xander Thomas, Grace Jones, Maali Williams-Surles, Kingston Clark, Chloe Ware, Angel Aguilar, Jaiden Wilson, Nickolas Stein, Quinnshon Wilson, Aaleiyah Sherman, Kevin Garcia, Kimberly Estrada, Braedyn Snow, Jaida Williams, Tiarra Dee, Jayla Rodriguez, Dayanara Baeza, Devani Vasquez, Jaslynn Sanders, Ja'leel Johnson, Jose Corpus, Marielle Maldonado, Krishawn Evans, Logan Caise, Monserrat Santillan, Amber Sanchez, Jeslyn Altamirano, Dayin Watson, Ntama Niyibitanga. In addition to awarding scholarships, Witherite Law Group sponsors numerous Dunbar initiatives such as Dads of Dunbar Mentoring Program, Senior Decision Day, Muffins with Moms, the Athletic Banquet, Teacher Appreciation, and the Top 10 Luncheon. Their presence and support have become a staple in the school's culture and student development. As a special moment during the event, the Fort Worth Police Department honored Amy Witherite with the Unsung Hero Award for her unwavering commitment to education and community service. "Most people cannot afford college outright, so scholarships can be a lifeline for students," said Witherite. 'We are proud to support these remarkable students as they take the next step toward their futures.' Attachments 2025 'Making a Difference' Scholarship Recipients Fort Worth Police Department honored Amy Witherite CONTACT: Kayla Tucker Adams KTA Media Group 2144039852 info@ in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
USA Today
06-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Justin Edwards evaluates 2025 rookie class for the Philadelphia 76ers
Justin Edwards evaluates 2025 rookie class for the Philadelphia 76ers PHILADELPHIA -- The 2024-25 season certainly didn't go as planned for the Philadelphia 76ers--they finished 24-58 in a season they were expected to contend for a title--but there are some positives. The Sixers saw the emergence of three talented rookies in the 2025. Undrafted Justin Edwards emerged as a rotation player while first-round pick Jared McCain was on his way to being a prime Rookie of the Year candidate before his meniscus tear. Second-round pick Adem Bona also stepped forward and made some big strides. Edwards, especially, was able to make a big stamp. He averaged 10.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in the 44 games he played including 26 starts. His production along with McCain and Bona has him excited for the future of the three rookies. "I feel like we made a lot of progress really," Edwards stated. "We all got the opportunity early. I feel like we we got a lot more work to do to be able to help the team next year, but I feel like we were able to make a lot of the time that we had this year." Throughout the summer leading into their rookie seasons, the trio played together in the summer league as well as heading out to UCLA and participating in the famed Rico Hines runs in August. That time together helped the youngsters grow and the Sixers benefited from them already having some type of chemistry. "We kind of clicked early with summer league and being around Rico Hines runs and stuff," Edwards explained. "So that kind of helped us out." As the offseason continues, one has to believe the emphasis for the Sixers will be to get more out of the three young players and see what they can do on a nightly basis. Edwards, McCain, and Bona all can play a role for Philadelphia if coach Nick Nurse sees fit.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
The Playlist: Week 22 fantasy basketball waiver wire pickups and start/sit advice: Time to win a trophy
Welcome to The Playlist: my weekly column that lets you know who and what to play — when it comes to setting your lineup or music in my rotation — for the upcoming week in fantasy basketball. Each week, you'll see a compilation of the pickups you need to make and a quick look at the schedule and lineup notes (who's in and out of rotations). Advertisement Press play and shuffle through the latest fantasy basketball info. Who should fantasy basketball managers be adding and plugging into their lineups this week? ♟️Week 22 Playoff Strategy We're back to focusing on quality over quantity. Two days this week have double-digit slates (Friday and Sunday), leaving the best options to stream on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Start by targeting the teams that play three games in four nights and evaluating your needs thereafter. As always, keep an eye on load management and injuries while doing your best to stay ahead of the curve — make every move count! ✅ Must-Add Players Since we're in the final week of fantasy basketball, if any high-usage, counting stats aggregators are available and their schedule is favorable, add them. I use Hashtag Basketball's advanced schedule grid to help my decision-making process. Advertisement Here are some lower-rostered must-add guys because of schedule or opportunity: Zach Edey, Justin Edwards, Adem Bona and Spencer Dinwiddie. Early Week Streamers 🎧 Who's in My Rotation If you're looking for a quick boost to start your week, these players are worth a look because they play three games in four nights from Monday to Thursday. Matas Buzelis - SF, Chicago Bulls (17% rostered) The time has come to trust the rookie from the Chi. Over his last four games, Buzelis has been providing fourth-round value in 9-cat leagues, averaging 32.75 fantasy points per game. The Bulls play four games, including a Monday/Tuesday back-to-back. I'd hold all week, but depending on your waiver schedule and FAAB budget, you technically could drop him after Wednesday and pick him up again for Friday tilt. Buzelis' minutes should stick around 28-30 the rest of the way, so add him if for the points, 3s and blocks with improved efficiency of late. Anthony Black - PG/SG, Orlando Magic (12% rostered) The Magic are trending up at the right time and so is the Florida State alum. Even in a reserve capacity, Black's been a top 80 player over the past two weeks, averaging 13.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks with exceptional 55/42/87 shooting splits. The Magic play three games in four nights, starting with a Monday/Tuesday back-to-back against the Clippers and Spurs. Their final game of the week is Thursday against the Wizards, so drop him after that game. Scotty Pippen Jr. - PG/SG, Memphis Grizzlies (37% rostered) Ja Morant is back in the lineup, limiting Pippen Jr.'s upside, but he's still worth adding or holding in all leagues because of the Grizzlies' schedule. They play on all the best days to stream (Tues/Thurs/Sat), plus Monday. Their opponents are tough, but at least Pippen will see most of his action against the second unit of the Celtics, Warriors, Heat and Pistons. He's been a second-round value in 9-cat leagues over the past two weeks, mainly due to Morant's absence, but he'll still help in assists, stocks and points. Carlton Carrington - PG/SG, Washington Wizards (13% rostered) Bub and the Wizards play the Heat, Kings and Magic to open Week 22 through Thursday. It wouldn't surprise me if Jordan Poole rested or the Wizards give more minutes to their younger players, including Carrington. He's been a shade outside the top 150 over the last week, but I see some appeal for fantasy managers seeking points, rebounds, assists and 3s. One transaction gets multiple starts, so he's an option in deeper formats. Mid-to-Late Week Streamers Here are a couple more options, but we don't know what surprises the injury report will reveal after Thursday. 🎧 Who's in My Rotation Davion Mitchell - PG/SG, Miami Heat (14% rostered) The fiesty floor general is playing 30+ minutes for the Heat, and has become a reliable source of assists and steals in fantasy. The Heat play three games in four nights from Wednesday to Saturday, though they are against difficult opponents like the Celtics, Grizzlies and Bucks. Despite the matchups, Mitchell's been a top 100 player over the last two weeks, averaging 12/3/6 with a steal and a 3 per game. He also has a 3:1 assist-to-turnover ratio, which is solid for a point guard. He's a good look for points leagues too, at the end of the week, getting 26.9 fantasy points over the past seven games. Ryan Rollins - PG, Milwaukee Bucks (10% rostered) The rookie is stepping up sans Damian Lillard, dropping 28.7, 28.0 and 21.3 fantasy points in his last three games. He continues to start for the Bucks and will be an asset for teams needing steals and dimes. Advertisement The other player to consider from the Bucks is Kevin Porter Jr. He's coming off a 28/4/5 performance with one steal, but KPJ shot an uncharacteristic 8-for-12 from the field in 22 minutes. Given the schedule with games versus PHO, PHI, MIA, and NO, KPJ's minutes and opportunity are steady. 🗓️ Weekly Game Schedule Here's how the week breaks down in terms of total NBA games played per day. Use this to identify when streaming options will be the most favorable: Lightest slates: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday Day Games Played Monday 8 Tuesday 7 Wednesday 9 Thursday 6 Friday 10 Saturday 5 Sunday 11 🎯 Teams to target The Sixers, Grizzlies, Bucks and Timberwolves have a great schedule, playing all of their games on the prime days of Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Edwards, Gary Trent Jr. and Donte DiVincenzo are shallow league adds, while Mike Conley, Jared Butler and Nickeil Alexander-Walker are deep league pickups. Advertisement The Warriors will need all hands on deck for their four-game week, which includes games against the Grizzlies, Lakers, Nuggets and Rockets. Still, two of their games are on lighter slates. The Lakers end the week playing three games in four nights from Thursday to Sunday, making players like Jaxson Hayes relevant. The Raptors play two of their four games on lighter slates, but with their tanking situation, it's hard to predict which players will be active. ❌ Teams to avoid New Orleans Pelicans and Cleveland Cavaliers don't play their first game until Wednesday, making fringe players like Jose Alvarado and De'Andre Hunter expendable. Both teams play on all their games on double-digit slates, so the players on your bench won't get any run. Other teams who play at least three of their games on the bigger slates are the Celtics, Hornets, Rockets, Pacers, Thunder, Kings, Spurs and Jazz. Advertisement The Pistons also don't play until Wednesday. If Cade Cunningham isn't back by then, Dennis Schrōder is an option for fantasy managers looking for points and assists mid-week since the Pistons play three games from Wednesday to Saturday. The Pelicans play the Lakers on Friday and the Bucks on Sunday, which are brutal matchups that fall on 10- and 11-game slates, respectively. So, I'd avoid the Pelicans players altogether. You can also drop Zion Williamson because it doesn't look like he'll play after missing his last five contests with a back injury. [It's not too late — join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Baseball league for the 2025 MLB season] The Brooklyn Nets play three games, but they land on Monday, Thursday and Sunday. With two days between games across the week, I don't think anyone is a mandatory hold after Monday. Although, Drew Timme would be a funny desperation heave in deep leagues. Back-to-Back Sets Monday/Tuesday: Bulls, Grizzlies and Magic Tuesday/Wednesday : Hawks, Knicks, Nuggets and Spurs Wednesday/Thursday: Heat and Wizards Thursday/Friday : Lakers, Raptors, Trail Blazers and Warriors Friday/Saturday : Clippers, Mavericks and Pistons Saturday/Sunday: Bucks, Hawks and Knicks 🚑 Injury Roundup And that's a wrap for this season's final edition of The Playlist! As we head into the last week of fantasy basketball, remember: every move counts, so stay sharp, stay flexible and watch those schedules and injury reports. Whether you're streaming for a last-minute boost or locking in your lineup for the championship, trust the process and play smart. Thanks for tuning in all season long — now go claim that trophy! 🏆 🎶
