The Edmonton Oilers’ best-kept secret is now out.

Earlier this morning, TSN’s Ryan Rishaug announced the news on the social media platform X.

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“The Oilers have relieved Chris Knoblauch of his coaching duties,” Rishaug wrote. This comes just days after rumors surfaced about the Oilers’ interest in speaking with former Vegas Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy.

This also comes about eight hours after the 2 Mutts Hockey Podcast shared some insights in its report.

“We’re hearing tonight that the Edmonton Oilers and Chris Knoblauch are working toward mutual parting ways,” the post said. “An official announcement by the organization is expected soon. It is our understanding that some players are upset with how this leaked to the public and how it was handled by the management staff. Chris is well liked and respected by the players.”

“The Oilers are also working toward interviewing Bruce Cassidy this week, with Bruce being the leading candidate for the new head coaching position. There are a lot of moving parts here.”

Cassidy has been linked to both the Oilers and Los Angeles Kings.

There’s more to come, as this is a developing story.

Caleb Kearney is a freelance journalist and writer who covers the Edmonton Oilers for SportsNut. Caleb Kearney Read More About Caleb Kearney

New Toronto Maple Leafs hockey executives John Chayka and Mats Sundin spoke for several hours with head coach Craig Berube last weekend. And coming out of this, all signs point to Berube staying on as Leafs coach, at least for a while. But on Wednesday morning, the team fired the head coach after a two-year run.

While it seems like the entire basketball world knows that Tyrese Maxey is the best player on the Philadelphia 76ers, Nick Nurse clearly doesn’t, and his decision to let his veteran lead in Game 3 vs. the New York Knicks may cost him his job next week.

On Friday night, the 76ers were in position to win. They lost 2-0 in their semifinal series against the Knicks and had to deal with an atmosphere at Xfinity Mobile Arena that seemed to have just as many, if not more, New York fans. Still, Nurse had the horses to pull out a win and escape a 3-0 hole, especially with Joel Embiid back on the field.

There’s no doubt the 76ers are in a better position with Embiid on the floor. The seven-time All-Star commands respect on both sides of the court, even in this diminished version. However, the 2025-26 season confirmed an undeniable fact: Maxi is and should always be the No. 1 option on offense. Yet somehow the Sixers head coach hasn’t gotten the memo.

Where was Tyrese Maxey Friday night?

In addition to being the fifth-highest per-game scorer in the NBA this season, Nurse had enough evidence to focus on Maxey in Game 3, especially against the Knicks. The two teams split their four games during the regular season, and Games 1 and 2 of this series were very different.

With Embiid being the focal point in the opener, he got blown out for 40 points. With Embiid sidelined and Maxey moving on, Game 2 was close the entire time, and over-utilization of its starters was likely the difference between victory and defeat on Wednesday. As good a defense as the Knicks have, Maxi gives them the same problems he does the rest of the NBA. He is a wonderful blend of lightning speed and cunning.

This is Tyrese Maxey’s team now. Still, in the most important game of the 2025-26 season, Nurse wanted his 76ers to play like they did in 2022-23.

On Friday night, the two-time All-Star led not only the 76ers, but all players with 44 in Game 3. Yet, in the most bizarre statistic of the night, he took the fourth-most shots on his team. Paul George looked like he was 36 as he led the team with 18 shots, Embiid had 17 and Kelly Oubre — who averaged just 10 a game during the season — tallied 16 on Friday. Maxi had 12 shots in Game 3.

Nick Nurse loses his 76ers job in Game 3 vs. Knicks

Furthermore, it was clear that neither George nor Embiid were on a heater at halftime, as they were both outscored by Oubre on Friday as he led the 76ers with 22 points in a 108-94 loss to the Knicks in Game 3.

It’s baffling that as soon as the Knicks took control of the game in the second quarter, Nurse did not pull his team to the bench and demand an offensive run through Maxi, their best player and scorer.

Maxi can certainly take some blame for not asserting himself and demanding the ball. But he’s still only 25, and it’s no surprise he’d take on a pair of NBA greats in a big game. This is where Nurse must show the courage and leadership to engage his veterans in this instance to do what is best for the team.

Nurse was already feeling some heat in his third season as head coach of the 76ers. However, his coaching in Game 3 proves that – barring a history-breaking comeback to win this series – he is not the guy to take this team to the next level and will be out as head coach next week.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

Eight days into his tenure with the New Jersey Devils, the real work has begun for new general manager Sunny Mehta.

Mehta has a long list of items to address this offseason, and when you think about it, he doesn’t have two months to prepare between now and the 2026 NHL Draft.

There are a lot of important questions that need to be answered if New Jersey is going to reach the tipping point Mehta believes they will. More information on the above questions is given in the link below.

Elsewhere, Detroit is having a fire sale? Buffalo charges, and Pittsburgh is backed into a corner.

Devil’s Trade Rumors and News

New Jersey Hockey Now: There is no exaggeration in the fact that this offseason could be one of the most important in franchise history. Sunny Mehta has outlined his work with his newly inherited team. Here are eight key questions regarding an important offseason for New Jersey.

📺 devil’s rink report: So, what priorities will Mehta face as he steps into his new role as general manager in New Jersey? We break it down in the latest Devils Rink report.

Full episode here 👇🏼

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NHL Trade Talk, News and National Hockey Now

Buffalo hockey now: Josh Norris couldn’t get any break. The Buffalo Sabers forward missed Game 3 due to injury, while their exciting rookie returned to the lineup.

Forever Blueshirts: The New York Rangers rookie explains that it’s easier to get into the NHL than it is to stay in the NHL. Jim Cerny explains that he should accept the challenge.

Athletic ($): Connor McDavid avoided the worst with a potential injury. However, so far, the Anaheim Ducks have kept him off the scoresheet. Chris Johnston says now comes an even bigger question.

Pittsburgh hockey now: The Pittsburgh Penguins are on the brink of elimination and their backs are against the wall. Trailing 3-0 in Game 4, one of their key players knows what it’s like to overcome that hurdle.

Detroit hockey now: Is there a Devil’s Trade partner available? Detroit Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman says no one is untouchable.

Montreal hockey now: Mark Dumont breaks down which Montreal Canadiens forwards are performing well in the playoffs and which defensemen need to step up.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

A new report suggests that even coaches from rival teams are confused by some of Mike Brown’s decisions with the New York Knicks’ starting lineup.

After winning 51 games and reaching the Eastern Conference Finals last spring, the Knicks made the bold and possibly hasty decision to fire head coach Tom Thibodeau. Feeling that they had gone as far as they could with the veteran coach, he had put in impressive performances under the stewardship of the roster.

When they could have acquired a top coach from another team, the Knicks brain trust chose former Cleveland Cavaliers and Sacramento Kings coach Mike Brown to be Thibodeau’s successor. Yet with three games left in the regular season, the team has about the same number of wins as it did a year ago, and there will be more disappointment heading into the NBA Playoffs.

There are questions about the Knicks’ defense and Brown not adjusting his system to get more out of All-Star forward Karl-Anthony Towns. Another issue that has troubled fans and analysts is Brown’s resistance to making changes to the starting lineup when the team is struggling. He left the lineup with Towns and Mitchell Robinson in the front court in November and never returned to it. This is a decision that has confused some people throughout the game.

Rival coach criticizes NY Knicks head coach Mike Brown’s ‘stubbornness’

“It’s championship or bust mode for that team. I don’t know how Mike Brown hasn’t at least given some other lineups a look despite all the troubles they’ve had,” a rival assistant coach told Heavy’s Sean Deveney. “It’s a fine line between having the courage of your convictions and being frankly stubborn about it. They have enough problems. It wouldn’t hurt to be creative and see what that looks like.”

It is not a good thing for Brown that sometimes the possible solutions to some of his conflicts are obvious, yet he is unwilling to admit his mistakes and make changes.

If the Knicks don’t reach the NBA Finals or at least the East Finals, heads are going to be bowed. Certainly, they will try to make major changes to the roster. And team president Leon Rose could be removed. However, while it would be a bad look to fire the head coach for the second consecutive year, Brown continues to give management reason to throw him under the bus if the team disappoints this spring.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

A new direction is coming for the New Jersey Devils and there are a few reasons that have gotten us here.

Tom Fitzgerald is out as general manager, however, his identity has been established. Fitzgerald has been with the New Jersey organization for the past 10 years, serving as general manager for the past six. They have made some bold moves such as acquiring Timo Meier and signing Dougie Hamilton as the first premiership free agent in several seasons. They’ve also made surprising mistakes, like trading Tyler Toffoli, who was a perfect fit at the time, and perhaps extending Johnathan Kovacevic a little earlier than anticipated.

However, in the 2025–26 season alone, several mistakes were made by the now former Devils GM, which ultimately led to the decision to fire him, and he started at the beginning of the year.

Jacob Markstrom Extension

Acquiring Jacob Markstrom was one thing. Fitzgerald gave up a first-round pick for an aging goaltender, but he at least came in with the makings of a legitimate starting goaltender. However, at age 35 and amid a long stretch of questionable games, Markstrom’s desire to extend was puzzling. Markstrom’s history suggests inconsistency. When he’s good, he’s great. And when he’s bad, it can be really questionable. That has often been the case in 2025-26, and entering the age 36 season, it’s hard to see how it will get any better. Fitzgerald had the entire season to evaluate what he was going to do with Markstrom, but instead he went into a new extension that hasn’t even started yet, while Markstrom hasn’t trusted anyone.

dougie hamilton debacle

Hamilton’s situation was handled poorly. News leaked that the Devils were shopping out the veteran defenseman, then benched him for “performance reasons”, only to see his agent call out Fitzgerald to try to force him to accept a trade. He then denied this notion, and later denied it when asked about it, despite knowing that Hamilton had canceled a trade or two.

quinn hughes is missing

Certainly, learning that Hamilton canceled a trade despite his improved play caused some tension. And that’s because the Devils were on Quinn Hughes, and couldn’t hold on to him. Not seeing his franchise brother’s face when he was available for trade was a huge mistake that could have turned the season 180°. Instead, he lost to a more aggressive GM who was willing to take big swings, show too much patience, and ultimately create an environment of uncertainty for players who felt they could be on the chopping block at any time.

too much business protection

Fitzgerald rejected another claim that the amount of business protection it provided hindered its ability to grow. However, as we know Hamilton did, the deals were voided due to the trade protections he offered, and the Devils GM himself was handcuffed. Thus, even when Jack Hughes was injured he could not make the necessary additions to improve the team.

Inactivity at trade deadline

The inactivity at the 2026 NHL trade deadline was perhaps the final straw. The Devils had pieces they could move this summer to improve their arsenal of possessions to take an even bigger swing. Instead, Fitzgerald stood quietly and did nothing. He also mentioned having the opportunity to explore the Hamilton business, and stated that this was something he was not interested in doing. In fact, their acquisition of Nick Bjugstad becomes even more intriguing in the weeks leading up to the deadline, with it appearing that there is a foot on each side of the fence as either a buyer or a seller. After all, the direction was unclear.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

After an unsuccessful season in 2025-26, the New Jersey Devils have fired general manager Tom Fitzgerald.

Managing partner David Blitzer made the decision after conversations with the now former Devils GM.

Via Devils PR, Blitzer says “Tom and I had a thoughtful conversation today and agreed that it is time to move in a new direction,” Blitzer says. “Tom changed the direction of our team here, including setting the franchise record for points in a season and helping make New Jersey a hockey destination. He is a respected leader in the Devils organization and in the NHL, and I am grateful for our friendship. I wish Tom and his family all the best. As we prepare to move forward, it is important that I thank our fans. I recognize that we have not performed as well as you expect and “I understand and share your frustration. This is an important offseason for our franchise, and we will explore all avenues that best position the Devils to compete for the Stanley Cup once again.”

“After speaking with David Blitzer, it became clear to everyone that moving on was the best move for the benefit of the team,” Fitzgerald said. “I am incredibly appreciative of David, Josh Harris, and the entire New Jersey Devils organization for being a part of my life for the past decade. The Devils are fortunate to have a group of great players, vocal and passionate fans, but most importantly, to have tremendous people who worked with me toward a common goal. I have always said that New Jersey is a hidden gem and I am proud of the effort we have made to raise the bar and make it a destination. I am proud of my hockey fans.” “Looking forward to the next step in my career and will always look back fondly on my time with the Devils.”

Fitzgerald had one year remaining on his contract with New Jersey.

*This is an ongoing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

Giannis Antetokounmpo was the talk of the town at this year’s NBA trade deadline. For the first time, the Milwaukee Bucks are actually fielding calls about Giannis, who has continued to put pressure on the organization to make winning moves at this point in his career or risk losing him.

Although the Bucks did not trade their superstar in February, he was attracting significant interest from the Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves and Miami Heat during the trade deadline, as ClutchPoints reported. While neither team had enough assets to make a deal for Giannis, the Heat stood out as a prime destination for Milwaukee’s star.

In addition to his friendship with Heat star Bam Adebayo, the Heat have always been viewed as a winning organization in the NBA, which is what Giannis would want in a new team if he leaves the Bucks in the summer.

After a 112-105 loss to the Heat on Thursday night, which resulted in the Bucks falling to 27-38, Giannis raised some eyebrows with his comments about the Heat and his team’s culture.

Antetokounmpo said after the loss, “They’re going to play hard, and they’re not going to stop playing. That’s the Miami Heat culture.” “It’s tough. For me personally, I don’t know how the team feels, but for me personally, it’s a tough season… I’m just trying to take it game by game. I’m grateful – happy that I’m here competing.

“But at the same time, it’s in my nature to win games.”

Winning has been the biggest problem in Milwaukee since Giannis ended the organization’s 50-year championship drought in 2021. Since then, the Bucks have seen four different coaches as the main man on the sidelines, and the franchise has only won one playoff series.

These are the main reasons Giannis’ frustrations have reached a new boiling point this season.

As far as his affection with the Heat, Antetokounmpo continued to praise Miami’s competitiveness, Bam Adebayo’s performance and Erik Spoelstra’s ability to coach his team after Thursday’s loss in South Beach.

“Miami’s head coach is going to keep playing, man. Even when they don’t hit shots, you’re going to get second chances. They’re going to crash the boards, get rebounds, find the open man, try to get to the free-throw line, keep turning the ball over, get the ball to Bam, and try to execute from there. They’re going to play hard.

“They’ve got guards that can penetrate, drive and kick, and that’s what they do, man.”

Giannis has high praise for Bam Adebayo

In addition to sharing equal representation, Giannis and Bam have formed a strong bond with each other through their battles in the Eastern Conference over the years.

A strong mutual respect exists between the two All-Stars, and Antetokounmpo was one of the Heat center’s biggest supporters recently, scoring 83 points against the Washington Wizards, the second-highest scoring game in NBA history behind only Wilt Chamberlain’s 100 points.

While many were downplaying Adebayo’s accomplishments and finding ways to find fault with his 43 free-throw attempts, Giannis didn’t let the stigma persist.

“Unbelievable. Incredible. Says a lot about his hard work. I haven’t watched the game. I’ll have to watch the game and see,” Antetokounmpo said of Adebayo’s 83-point game on Tuesday night. “It doesn’t matter how you got it. It just means you got it. In 10, 20, 30 years from now, nobody’s going to remember how many free throws he shot. I don’t think I remember how many shots Kobe made, or how many free throws he shot, or three.

“You only remember 81, 100. You don’t remember that, you know?”

Coincidentally, the Bucks and Heat were scheduled to face off in the next game following Giannis’ praise of Adebayo and his 83-point performance. As could be expected, these two hugged each other before the game and their matchup with each other did not disappoint.

Antetokounmpo finished the game with 31 points and six rebounds in 29 minutes, while Adebayo had 21 points, eight rebounds and two assists. Although Giannis won the scoring battle between the two big men, it was Adebayo’s team that came away with a 112-105 victory.

Once again, Giannis’ postgame comments add to the mystery of what’s really going through his mind regarding a potential offseason departure. It’s very clear that Antetokounmpo wants to win, and if he can’t do it with the Bucks, maybe he can do it with Bam in Miami.

After all, from Antetokounmpo’s own comments it sounds like Adebayo is his ideal future teammate.

“Obviously, whenever I play against Bam, it’s always extra motivation. I think he’s one of the best players in the NBA,” Giannis said Thursday night in Miami. “One of the best two-way players in the NBA. One of the best 4-5 players in the league.”

“Whenever I go to him, I don’t need to see 83 points on the board or follow the hype to find extra motivation to protect the balm. I think it goes both ways.”

Could the Heat’s dream of landing Giannis in a blockbuster offseason trade actually come true? Time will tell what happens with the two-time NBA MVP, but it’s clear that the bond between Adebayo and Antetokounmpo is very real.

“I’m always motivated when I play against Bam. I think he knows that, and it goes both ways. He’s always motivated to play against me.”

Zion Williamson has been dealing with injuries for quite some time and has once heard of NBA trade chatter. But the New Orleans Pelicans were trending for another reason on Wednesday: via a stunning windmill dunk over the Toronto Raptors.

Williamson ran down the court on a fastbreak and headed for the rebound alone. The former top overall NBA draft pick did not settle for a layoff. Instead he threw it down in epic, rim-rattling fashion.

zion windmill pic.twitter.com/8h4hLFbiDT

– Pelican Film Room (@PelsFilmRoom) 12 March 2026

Williamson sets social media website X, formerly Twitter, on fire with his jams.

What Rotowire posted on the site was “reminiscing about his days at Duke”.

One fan started reacting after seeing Williamson enter the 2027 NBA Slam Dunk Contest. Another fan commented how Williamson caused an earthquake in New Orleans.

Brandon Ingram praises Pelicans’ Zion Williamson

Another person reacted to Williamson’s big night: Raptors’ Brandon Ingram.

Except fellow ex-Duke Blue Devils shared nothing but high praise for Williamson.

“It was good to talk to him because we’ve been together for a while and we wanted to build something that could lead to a championship,” Ingram shared via Will Guillory of The Athletic. “Just meeting him and seeing where he is in his career. I’m happy for him that he’s healthy and he’s out on the basketball floor doing what he loves.”

The NBA world often sees superstars battling injuries. He even suffered an illness in early March, ending his 35-game playing streak with the Pelicans.

But Ingram doesn’t appear to be a player struggling with injuries.

Ingram said, “He’s a generational talent. Nobody can do what Zion does on the basketball field.”

Williamson suffered an ankle injury at the beginning of the month. But that ankle seemed like an afterthought after throwing a windmill.

It’s looked hopeless at many points this season, but somehow, the Milwaukee Bucks are still alive in the playoff race — especially now that Giannis Antetokounmpo is back in action after a long absence of more than a month due to a calf injury.

Although it is mathematically possible for the Bucks to make the play-in tournament, as at the time of writing, they are only four games behind the Atlanta Hawks in the standings, the fact that they are not in the playoff picture is a clear indication that the team is not very good right now.

There’s no denying Antetokounmpo’s greatness, but the prolonged absence of a superstar shouldn’t mean the team will collapse around him. For the Bucks, they have collapsed most of the season when Antetokounmpo is on the mend. They’ve gone 11-18 without him, and that won’t cut it.

Of course, the good news is that Antetokounmpo remains on the roster, even though he was on the trade block just a month ago and it looked like a blockbuster trade involving him would finally materialize.

It simply means that the Bucks are still on the clock, as there is not zero chance that Antetokounmpo will commit his future to the team despite his disappointing short-term to medium-term outlook.

And while they are limited in the changes they can make to the roster, perhaps the Bucks can start convincing Antetokounmpo that they mean business by cleaning house – starting with the departure of head coach Doc Rivers.

Bucks need to start fresh, move on from Doc Rivers

Despite having a 30–13 record, the Bucks made the surprise decision to fire Adrian Griffin and replace him with Doc Rivers as the team’s head coach in 2024. They finished the season under .500 under Rivers (they went 19–20) and lost in the first round of the playoffs against the eventual conference finalists Indiana Pacers.

Now, this isn’t going to turn into Griffin’s defense. By all accounts, the Bucks locker room questioned his strategy because Griffin had not maximized the team’s personnel. But reports revealed that when Griffin called his players out he took it in stride, although the fact that he did meant that his respect for them was fractured from the start.

Still, Griffin coached a terrible defense, and it was clear Antetokounmpo was growing tired of his schemes. They replaced Griffin with Rivers, who at least has the respect of people in the locker room.

This may be Rivers’ only save at this stage of his coaching career. Everyone knows the story with Rivers: He won a title with the Boston Celtics in 2008, maintains a sense of professionalism in the locker room that commands respect from everyone on the team, and he’s a consistent win producer, at least in the regular season.

Rivers has had his fair share of black eyes in the playoffs. He is the only head coach in NBA history to lead multiple 3–1 playoff series. His star-studded teams perform poorly under the bright lights of the postseason. But that’s all moot when the Bucks team he’s currently coaching couldn’t even make the start of the postseason.

Some Bucks fans may be wondering why Rivers hasn’t been fired yet. The results have not been there, and there has been nothing but disappointment in the Cream City since the team brought him in. It’s clear his voice still has influence in the locker room, and Antetokounmpo is at least there to stay with him unlike Griffin.

The Bucks’ shortcomings this season aren’t really Rivers’ fault. The team he is currently coaching is not very good anyway. But he’s not really adding wins to the team. Some of his rotation decisions recently were surprising; Why did Kyle Kuzma not play at all in their recent loss to the Boston Celtics? Why was Ryan Rollins, of all people, benched upon Antetokounmpo’s return?

It’s time for a fresh start for the Bucks under the tutelage of a well-known coach who knows how to handle a locker room with big egos. And for once, the Bucks will have to enlist the services of a new voice, an up-and-coming assistant who has paid his dues during his time in the NBA.

Why Mika Nori deserves a chance in Milwaukee?

Nouri has been an assistant coach in the NBA for 17 seasons, and he is currently part of the Minnesota Timberwolves coaching staff under head coach Chris Finch. He is the main assistant of the team, as he replaces Finch if he is out or misses time due to personal reasons or injury.

Most accounts state that Nori is adept at managing game situations, meaning his main strength is adjusting to what he sees on the court. Now, the head coaching job requires much more than mastering such skills. Still, his tactical plans could be what brings Antetokounmpo on board for at least the next few years.

If there’s one thing Antetokounmpo wants from a coach, it’s defensive consistency and communication. Nori provides both; Players have appreciated the Timberwolves assistant’s ability to build relationships with them, and he has been instrumental in crafting a Minnesota defense that routinely ranks top-10 in the NBA.

Given that the Bucks lack scoring weapons around Antetokounmpo, getting it done on defense should be priority number one for them. They are currently ranked 24th in that department, so that won’t make the cut. They have solid individual pieces on defense, Kevin Porter Jr. and Rollins are very disruptive, and Myles Turner has a long history of adequate rim protection, but it hasn’t come together under Rivers.

Now, the Bucks may need an experienced head coach to reassign Antetokounmpo. But Milwaukee needs to avoid retreading head coaches at all costs. And there may be no better candidate for the potential Bucks head coaching vacancy than Nouri.

Last Wednesday, the Cleveland Cavaliers saw three new faces make their home debuts at Rocket Arena. Seeing James Harden, Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis take the floor in front of a raucous, energetic crowd was a highly anticipated night. It was no surprise to Ellis, who had heard that day from a former Cleveland champion that he had been drafted into the organization. This wasn’t just someone loyal to the Cavs; It was fan favorite Matthew Dellavedova.

“Matthew, he was my guy when I was in Sacramento,” Ellis said after Wednesday’s blowout 138-113 win over the Washington Wizards. “He messaged me when I got traded. He said, ‘Yeah, you’ll love it. It’s definitely a sports town.’ So yeah, there was definitely good energy there tonight.”

Dellavedova, known as “Daly” in Northeast Ohio, played twice in Cleveland. Fans in the city were attracted to the scrappy, tough style of play the Australian point guard brought every night. His most memorable years came in his first stint with the team from 2013–16, the final season of which saw the Cavs defeat the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals after falling 3–1.

Earning a substantial payday in free agency, Dellavedova played for the Milwaukee Bucks for the next two and a half seasons. In need of experienced leadership, the struggling Cavs returned for him in December 2018. He stayed until 2021 before moving back home to play for Melbourne United in the NBL.

After one season there, Dellavedova last tried his hand in the NBA with the Sacramento Kings, where he faced rookie Ellis in the 2022-23 campaign.

Similar to Dellavedova, Ellis is an undrafted player who had to work hard in the league. He attended two years of junior college at Florida Southwestern, then spent his upper class years at Alabama. Although he thrived as a senior, NBA teams did not select him in 2022. The Kings gave him a chance with a two-way contract as a rookie, and in his second season as a professional he was traded to a standard deal in February 2024.

“I literally tried every way to not get it,” Ellis told ClutchPoints in his postgame presser. “So yeah, it’s crazy that I got here. That’s the only word I can really think of, so definitely blessed.”

“I just want to win. Like, everything else doesn’t really matter to me. As long as we win, that’s all that matters. When I was in college, our coach Nate Oats used to say, ‘When the tide rises, all boats rise.’ So I think that message is still stuck. When the team wins, everyone wins. So, I just go out there and try to play winning games. “I would say that’s what motivates me.”

Cleveland fans should immediately connect with Ellis’ game due to his defensive efforts and consistent pressure. It’s not too far from what the city’s most beloved Australian wine-and-golder brought to the table all those years ago.

Despite being on opposite sides of the world, the two have maintained their relationship since their days in Sacramento. Dellavedova is still going strong with the Sydney Kings, while Ellis is starting the second chapter of his career at the place where his friend became a folk hero.

It’s funny how small the basketball world can be, isn’t it?

The format of the All-Star Game has changed once again, as it will be split between two Team USA and one Team World. The reason for this was to make the game more competitive, but ultimately it is the players who make it interesting, not the format. Nikola Jokic has been one of those players who has consistently been in the All-Star Game for the past few years, and there hasn’t been any change as far as how he plays.

During his media availability, he was asked if he would play anything differently this year because of the format, and as expected, he said nothing would change.

Jokic said, “I’m going to play the same way I play every year. I’m not sure it’s going to bring another fire out of me because I play the same way every game.”

“I’m going to play the same way I play every year. I’m not sure it’s going to bring another fire out of me because I play the same way every game. Not for me.”

Nikola Jokic shares his thoughts on the new All-Star format 🗣️pic.twitter.com/elrpATGq2S

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 14 February 2026

Other players have noted that the competition starts with the players. Kawhi Leonard believes the game should go back to the classic East vs. West format.

“It’s going to start with the starters, whoever gets there first,” Leonard said. “For me, personally, we need to get back to the way it was, and if guys are going to play hard, they’ll play hard. I think it will be competitive this year. I don’t know what the format is like. But hopefully, guys are competing. They usually do, but it’s also an All-Star Game.”

There hasn’t been much competition during the All-Star Game in years past, and the most energy was when they were scoring goals. For some reason, they discontinued that format and created several different teams, and it did nothing to improve it.

It will be interesting to see if this new format changes any players’ approach to the game, because if not, they may have to make more changes.