Latest news with #TheKOCShow
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
NBA analyst projects Tre Johnson as top-five pick in 2025 NBA draft
NBA analyst projects Tre Johnson as top-five pick in 2025 NBA draft Texas Longhorns standout Tre Johnson is expected to be among the first names called at Barclays Center on June 25. As the NBA calendar turns to June, the league's spotlight shifts to the NBA Finals and the upcoming NBA Draft, where former Texas Longhorns standout Tre Johnson is expected to be among the first names called at Barclays Center on June 25. NBA analyst Kevin O'Connor, in his latest mock draft for Yahoo Sports, projects Johnson to be selected fifth overall by the Utah Jazz, describing him as a 'clutch shot-maker who can catch fire from all over the floor, drilling step-backs and off-screen jumpers with ease." O'Connor noted that Utah's league-worst 17-win season makes Johnson, a proven scoring guard, a logical fit regardless of the Jazz's current roster construction. Johnson, 19, capped his freshman season at Texas by averaging 19.9 points per game on 42.7% shooting from the field and 39.7% from three-point range, earning Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year honors. He accounted for nearly a quarter of Texas' total points and more than a third of the team's made three-pointers, showcasing both volume and efficiency as a scorer1. Johnson also broke Kevin Durant's Texas freshman scoring record with a 39-point performance against Arkansas. Measuring 6-foot-4.75 with a 6-foot-10.25 wingspan at the NBA Draft Combine, Johnson is seen as a versatile guard capable of fitting into a variety of NBA lineups. His draft range is projected between the fourth and eighth picks, with teams such as the Charlotte Hornets, Washington Wizards, New Orleans Pelicans, and Brooklyn Nets also in play. In a recent interview on 'The KOC Show,' Johnson expressed his willingness to adapt to any role his future team requires, whether as a primary ball-handler or a versatile shooter. 'I feel like it could go either way… whatever the team needs to win. It could also change night to night,' Johnson said. While Johnson's outside shooting is widely regarded as NBA-ready, he acknowledged that feedback from the NBA Combine emphasized finishing stronger at the rim. 'They want me to dunk more,' Johnson told O'Connor, adding that his athleticism was on display in Chicago and that he's focused on translating it into more aggressive finishes in games. Johnson's combination of scoring ability, adaptability, and work ethic has made him one of the most attractive prospects in this year's draft. He is expected to make his professional debut at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas next month, with Utah currently forecast as his likely landing spot.
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NBA's Top 40 Players in the 2025 Playoffs – KOC's CONTROVERSIAL Rankings REVEALED!
Kevin O'Connor went into the lab and cooked up his definitive TOP 40 players of the the 2025 NBA Playoffs, in order. Come for the snubs, stay for the controversy. It's KOC's opinion and if you don't like it, let him know in the comments. All 16 NBA Playoff teams are represented in this comprehensive, first-ever Top 40 Postseason Player rankings — and you can only get it on this special edition of The KOC Show! Advertisement (02:00) - #40-31 (16:20) - #30-21 (28:35) - #20-11 (43:35) - Top 10 DENVER NUGGETS VS MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES, NBA DENVER, CO - APRIL 11: Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets communicates with the coaching staff during the third quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado on Friday, April 11, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post) (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)) 🖥️ Watch this full episode on YouTube Check out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at or at Yahoo Sports Podcasts
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Playoff risers, lottery tankers and Cooper Flagg's injury
Let the NBA Draft Lottery tanking COMMENCE! De'Aaron Fox of the San Antonio Spurs, out for the year. Paul George, likely done for the year. The Mavs, well they're not TRYING to tank but it's happening anyway because DuMont and Nico Harrison's respective visions for the Dallas Mavericks continue to blow up in their face. The Miami Heat, we can't tell if they're tanking or just plain stink. The Utah Jazz are tanking in plain sight (and getting fined for it). But there's plenty of good too — Tom Haberstroh tells Kevin O'Connor that the Golden State Warriors are officially a "top-tier" title contender, right up there with the Cavs, Thunder and Celtics. It's all on this fresh new episode of The KOC Show. Plus, former NBA star Gordon Hayward joins Kevin O'Connor to break down Cooper Flagg's injury, and what this could mean for #1-ranked Duke's immediate future with The Tournament looming. Hayward explains how after he saw the Flagg injury, the first thing he thought of was his own gruesome ankle injury. KOC and Gordon also talk about which players for Duke will now need to step up, including Kon Knueppel. Gordon also reacts to his alma mater Butler losing on Thursday to #6 St. John's. (1:28) NBA teams beginning to tank (1:59) Utah Jazz fined (2:35) San Antonio Spurs tanking? (3:50) Philadelphia 76ers tanking? (7:26) Miami Heat tanking? (10:47) Are teams tanking for Cooper Flagg? (13:22) Portland Trail Blazers are NOT tanking (20:49) Mikal Bridges comments on 'minutes' (27:41) DuMont comments on Luka trade (35:47) Golden State Warriors title contenders? (43:43) Minnesota Timberwolves title contenders? (52:33) Why incentives matter in NBA postseason (58:17) Gordon Hayward joins the show 🖥️
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Celtics trade targets, Amen Thompson's ascent and Wolves deep dive
On today's massive MAILBAG edition of The Kevin O'Connor Show, KOC is joined by 3x NBA champion Danny Green. Which player should the Boston Celtics target in a trade if they want to repeat? The Houston Rockets are rolling thanks to Amen Thompson, but what is his ceiling as a player? Is Danny Green buying stock in the suddenly-surging Indiana Pacers? Should Steph Curry be applying pressure to the Golden State Warriors front office? Plus, wait until you hear Danny's reaction to Jusuf Nurkic's comments about the Phoenix Suns and Coach Bud. And who's more likely to go back-to-back-to-back: Patrick Mahomes or Mac McClung? Plus, Dane Moore stops by for a deep dive on the Minnesota Timberwolves. Has Julius Randle turned a corner, or should Wolves fans still be praying for a trade? All this and more on a jam-packed mailbag edition of The KOC Show! (0:08) Jimmy Butler suspended (2:35) Danny Green joins (2:41) Amen Thompson ceiling (6:53) Celtics trade targets (11:47) Pacers recent surge (14:29) Richards impact on Suns (16:29) Nurkic comments on Suns organization (20:39) Steph pressure on GSW front office? (23:58) Which player has been traded most? (26:42) Dane Moore joins (27:46) Timberwolves improvements (35:57) Randle trade? (43:46) Dillingham usage (53:07) Ace Bailey draft stock (55:02) Mahomes or McClung more likely to repeat? (56:45) Beard contractual obligations (57:27) Mount Rushmore of guitar players (58:38) Balancing work, family & friends (1:00:32) Warzone season 2 (1:02:03) Leg press (1:04:14) Father John Misty 🖥️
