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If you didn’t get it or didn’t believe it at first, the San Antonio Spurs’ Game 3 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves confirmed that Victor Wembanyama is the scariest player in the NBA, and the rest of the Western Conference players should be terrified.

Beyond his 7 foot 4 inches height – which can actually be misleading – Vembanyama is not a scary looking athlete, as he weighs only 234 pounds on his massive body. For old-school fans, he physically reminds them of frustrating, weak big men like Manute Bol and Shawn Bradley. Yet, through his first three seasons, he continues to prove that he is the league’s real unicorn, not Kristaps Porzingis.

Over the course of the season, he emerged as a top-10 talent and a legitimate MVP candidate, leading his 62-win Spurs team in scoring (25.0), rebounds (11.5), and blocks (3.1) in just 29 minutes per night. Although he did not win MVP, he earned Defensive Player of the Year honors and tied the game during the regular season. Still, the talented 22-year-old hasn’t progressed to new levels as if the NBA is his own personal video game.

Victor Wembanyama becomes the NBA’s scariest star during the 2026 playoffs

In case you haven’t noticed, Wembanyama has put himself in some elite company during this year’s playoffs. But especially in the Spurs’ ongoing series against the Timberwolves, he has been absolutely terrible. In Game 1, he made NBA history by becoming the first player to post 12 blocks in a playoff game. However, they were on the wrong end of a 104–102 loss at home. This obviously enraged the French.

In Game 2, he scored 19 points and posted 15 boards in a dominant 133–95 victory. Still, it was just an appetite for what he’ll do Friday night in Game 3. In the Spurs’ 115–108 win, the teen barely had 39 points, 15 rebounds and 5 blocks. But these aren’t the best numbers as he somehow shot an absurd 72.2% from the field while hoisting five three-pointers.

On Friday, he became the first player since LeBron James in the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals to have 35 or more points, 15 boards and shoot at least 70% in a playoff game. He is now the fourth player in NBA history to have 35 or more points, 15 rebounds and 5 blocks in a playoff game. The basketball icon is joining Shaquille O’Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Vembanyama is not just a talented scorer in the NBA. There’s a bunch of them in the league. But because he’s 7-foot-4, when he’s on, he can’t be guarded. However, although he can be a complete problem on offense, he is the best defensive player in the game at the moment. Sending fear into any man who dares to drive in the lane. That’s why, at just 22 years old, the French phenom is officially the NBA’s scariest player.

What’s worse for the league’s teams is that they are loving every minute of it. “I’ve really been looking forward to living those moments, those high-stakes games, since I’ve been in the league. That’s what I love. That’s what I’m made for. I love it more than anything else,” he said Friday night.

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

Houston Rockets superstar Kevin Durant continues to add to his Hall of Fame resume late in his career, and what he accomplished on Saturday night against the Miami Heat may be his greatest accomplishment yet. By scoring his 27th point against the Heat, Durant passed Michael Jordan’s 32,292 career points to move into fifth place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.

With this corner triple, Kevin Durant passed Michael Jordan to reach No. 5 on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.pic.twitter.com/ItsOYrwo8e https://t.co/pY739bp1da

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 22 March 2026

Very few players can match the accomplishments that Jordan accomplished during his illustrious career, which is why this is such a great accomplishment for Durant. Already known as one of the most lethal scorers in NBA history, Durant now has a top-five scoring rating to back up that claim.

After passing Jordan for fifth on the all-time scoring list, Durant will now look to pass Kobe Bryant’s 33,643 career points, potentially moving him into fourth place sometime during the 2026-27 season. Karl Malone (36,928), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38,387), and LeBron James (43,241 and counting) are likely out of Durant’s reach at this point in his career.

Jordan was considered by many players during the Durant era to be the greatest player in league history, including the 16-time All-Star. That’s why Durant is still surprised to see his name next to all the greats of the game, including Jordan.

“It’s great to be in the same category as some of the greatest players to ever play this game,” Durant said recently, via NBA.com. “He has added so much to the game that has inspired me to stay for so long.”

When he passed Dirk Nowitzki for sixth on the all-time scoring list against the New Orleans Pelicans on January 18, Durant said it was “crazy” to be on the list with a “legend” like Nowitzki.

Durant said, “I want to continue to make a lot of appearances, climb up the charts, just see how I finish. It’s been amazing so far.”

What makes all these late-career accomplishments even more amazing is the fact that Durant has continued to play like one of the best players in the NBA even after suffering an Achilles injury in the 2019 NBA Finals and missing all of the 2019-20 season.

Very few athletes are able to return to the sport they love after an Achilles injury and still remain effective. Not only has Durant done this, but his overall production and value have remained unchanged before and after the injury.

Durant has had one of the most decorated careers in basketball history, especially when you include his Team USA accomplishments at the Olympics, and surpassing Jordan on the all-time scoring list is another reminder of how great KD is.

On Thursday, it was reported by ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania that Detroit Pistons star point guard Cade Cunningham will miss an extended period of time due to a damaged lung. The scary situation comes as the Pistons prepare for a playoff run, in which they will likely be the number one seed in the Eastern Conference.

Depending on how much time Cunningham misses, it is possible he could miss eligibility for end-of-season NBA awards, including First Team All-NBA and others that require a player to appear in a minimum of 65 games.

If Cunningham does indeed miss the cut, it would spark further backlash over award eligibility rules. The league first implemented the 65-game minimum in an effort to reduce load management, which, in fairness, was a very real concern at the time, and still is to some extent. It’s also true that the best ability is availability, and there’s certainly a limit to how much value a player can provide to his team if he’s consistently out of the lineup for any reason.

However, if Cunningham does indeed miss out on eligibility, All-NBA teams could feature some faces that many fans may not have seen play at that level on the court. Players like Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are already teetering on the edge of eligibility due to previous injury absences, as is San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama.

Cunningham not getting recognition at the end of the season could potentially be the last nail in the coffin that forces the NBA to make changes this offseason.

For now, Cunningham is being considered a possible candidate for First Team All-NBA and the league MVP award.

The NBA’s 2025-26 season has been surrounded by controversy, from one hot-button topic to the next, including the latest in which San Antonio Spurs veteran Luke Kornet condemned the Atlanta Hawks’ upcoming “Magic City Night” promotion. Cornette doubled down on his criticism of the Hawks’ plans, leading to an open letter asking the NBA to intervene in Atlanta’s scheduled promotion for their upcoming home game on March 16 against the Orlando Magic.

Cornette says the Hawks honoring a strip club by calling it “the city’s iconic cultural institution” is inconsistent with the values ​​of all NBA players, and the association should not have approved it.

“The NBA must be willing to protect and respect women, many of whom work diligently every day to make it the best basketball league in the world,” Kornett wrote in his personal blog. “We must foster an environment that is protective and respectful of the daughters, wives, sisters, mothers and partners we know and love.

“Allowing this night to proceed without protest would reflect poorly on us as an NBA community, especially given our society’s complicity with the potential objectification and abuse of women. Regardless of how a woman finds her way into the adult entertainment industry, many in the field experience abuse, harassment and violence to which they should never have been subjected.”

For the NBA, a league already mired in ethics concerns tied to its enthusiastic support of sports gambling, Cornette’s points are valid, given the negative connotations associated with the adult entertainment business. While the association’s effort to embrace the culture of the area, the Magic City, has been considered one of the foundations of Atlanta’s hip-hop music scene for the past two decades, the Hawks may have gone too far with their latest promotion.

Kornet’s latest campaign adds up to a difficult season for the NBA, given that the league has bigger issues to deal with technically. After Jonte Porter was banned from the NBA for life in April 2024 for violating league gambling policies, Terry Rozier of the Miami Heat was arrested in connection with an illegal gambling scheme.

Former Portland Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups was also named in the federal investigation, which involved sports betting and rigged, high-stakes poker games. Former Detroit Pistons forward Malik Beasley was at the center of a separate investigation for alleged improper gambling on games during the 2023-24 season.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver has generally been open to thinking outside the box, which has inspired league front offices to do the same in order to rebuild their rosters and compete for championships. Teams deliberately sitting their best players to increase their chances of receiving a high selection in the upcoming draft has emerged as one of the most controversial topics in sports.

The NBA has considered taking intense measures in response to teams intentionally sitting their players to improve their chances of losing. Changes included expanding the lottery to include all play-in tournament teams, determining lottery odds based on team performance over two years, and freezing draft lottery odds at the time limit to discourage intentional losing at the end of the regular season.

Luke Cornet addresses open letter ahead of Spurs matchup

Spurs veteran center Luke Kornet knows it’s rare for an NBA player to speak out about the Hawks’ promotion. Nevertheless, Cornette feels passionately about the topic and has not backed down since his initial blog post.

Cornette was forced to do so after learning of the Hawks’ “Magic City Night” promotion a week earlier. To declarehe said, according to ABC 6’s Jason Dumas.

“I feel like it doesn’t really represent what I know about myself and a lot of other N.B.A. [players] thought. So, I just want to make sure that part of the discussion is expressed. It comes with people like criticism and things like that – that’s part of the process as to why people are hesitant to do it, but I think really trying to start and enable conversation,” Cornet said during the Spurs shootaround on Tuesday.

“It’s important to help make sure that everyone in the league is willing to be represented, and there’s an environment that you want.”

Luke Cornette caused some stir nationally when he urged the Atlanta Hawks to cancel their “Magic City Night”, saying it was disrespectful to women.

I asked him about it after the shooting in Philly. Says he has not spoken to the league since his statement. pic.twitter.com/eTwFuZGAGQ

-Jason Dumas (@JDumasReports) 3 March 2026

The Cornets have reached the league, but no changes have been made regarding the upcoming event. When asked by a reporter if he had spoken to anyone from the Hawks organization, he said, no.

Still, it’s another bad look for the NBA amid a season filled with bad publicity, ranging from allegations that the Clippers circumvented the salary cap to sports gambling investigations to issues stemming from teams intentionally tanking; It feels like one issue after another is coming to the fore during the 2025-26 campaign.

OKLAHOMA CITY — Ahead of Friday’s showdown between MVP candidate Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets and All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder, coach David Edelman had an interesting thing to say. Jokic and Gilgeous-Alexander are recovering from injuries that have kept them out of a lot of games. Many wondered whether any of them would be able to reach the NBA’s 65-game requirement to qualify for the MVP award.

For the third consecutive season, Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic are the two leading candidates for MVP. Before Friday’s matchup, Edelman addressed the league 65-game regular-season requirement For NBA awards and how it could affect Jokic and SGA’s tight race.

“The rules weren’t made for them. They both got hurt. They both play all the time. So, that part of it — maybe we have to look at that. I really mean that. That’s one of the best things about both guys,” Edelman said. “When a fan buys a ticket, they’re going to play. And they’ve done that for years, and our guy’s been doing that for a very long time. Him missing a game, him missing a practice, him missing a workout, it’s really tough on that guy.

“He’s a regular-based player, which is good for our game, good for the fans, and Shai is the same way. That’s one of the most impressive things about both guys. So, when both guys get hurt, I don’t look at it as a comfort. I think there’s a difference, and I know why the rule is there — it’s to clean things up. It makes sense to me and to the fan.”

While the 65-game rule forces teams to play their stars regardless of their record, Nuggets coach David Edelman understands the importance of fans attending games. He doesn’t think this rule should apply to guys like Jokic and Gilgeous-Alexander, who rarely miss games intentionally.

“It’s the worst when your bus is parking, and you see kids in jerseys, and they show up, and that guy doesn’t play,” Edelman said. “I look at it both ways, but in the spirit of the game, I think Shai and Nicola have been great for the league over the years. I hope that’s taken into account as we move forward.”

David Edelman’s strong opinion on SGA and Jokic’s MVP race in relation to the NBA’s 65-game rule: “The rule wasn’t made for them. They both get hurt. They both play all the time. So, that part of it – maybe we have to take a look at that…

There is a difference and I know why the rule is… pic.twitter.com/IWRsNt7krz

-Joshua Peacock (@Joe_Sway) 28 February 2026

Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander return for Nuggets

After missing the past nine games, Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander returns from an abdominal injury for Friday’s contest against Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets. It’s always must-see TV when Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic are going at it.

After last year’s Western Conference Semifinals best-of-7 series, where the Thunder and Nuggets played Game 7 at Paycom Center, this should be another playoff-like intensity with SGA and Jokic taking center stage.

The San Antonio Spurs have built one of the most dangerous defenses in the NBA. Victor Wembanyama’s MVP-level play has garnered the most attention. However, Stefan Kassel’s emergence as one of the league’s top on-ball defenders is a specific compliment to the French superstar.

“[Stephon] Understand your role well. “The level he’s playing at is really invisible for a second-year player,” Wembanyama said of Castle’s defense. “We make it uncomfortable for guys playing against us. That’s the goal. To dribble around one of the best on-ball defenders and then hit a shot over some of the best rim protectors, it’s very hard.

The Spurs have the NBA’s third-best record (43–16) amid a league-best 11-game winning streak. Cassel’s two-way contributions during his second season have sped up San Antonio’s deadline.

The 21-year-old has put in solid offensive performances, averaging 16.6 points and 6.8 assists on 46.7 percent shooting in 49 appearances. However, Cassel’s success in an expanded defensive role has been the catalyst behind his impact.

Stefan Cassel blossoming as defensive stopper with surging Spurs

San Antonio has tasked Cassel with guarding the league’s top scorers on a nightly basis. The 6-foot-6 guard has faced challenges and led a defensive unit with Wembanyama that ranks third in the NBA.

According to CleaningTheGlass, Cassel posted a -4.7 defensive rating swing (team points allowed per 100 possessions with a player on versus off), the sixth-best mark in the NBA among guards playing over 1,000 minutes. The Spurs have posted a 109.3 defensive rating with him and Wembanyama.

st anthony MVP candidate placed Cade Cunningham scored 16 points on 5-of-26 shooting during Monday’s 114-103 win over the Detroit Pistons. Cunningham shot 3 of 13 (23.1 percent) with two turnovers when defended by Cassel.

“[Stephon] “The potential for that was shown last year,” Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson said, adding that he had some good moments defensively. This year, we’ve obviously increased the interrogations, which has increased their opportunity to guard the big scorers and ball-dominant guys in this league. And I think he has proved his capabilities. I think he needs to continue to move the ball in other ways. But I think he’s as good on the ball as any player in the league.”

Stephen Cassel’s defense on Cade Cunningham during the Spurs’ win over the Pistons

(h/t @MrBuckBuckNBA)pic.twitter.com/4B5kblpddQ

– FullCourtPass (@FullCourtPass) 24 February 2026

With Castle and Wembanyama already wreaking havoc on opposition attacks, Spurs have another potentially elite on-ball stopper in rookie Dylan Harper. At 6-foot-5, 215 pounds, with a 6-foot-10.5 wingspan and above-average athleticism, the No. 2 draft pick has caused problems for opposing ball-handlers at only 19 years old.

Harper is learning on the job while supporting Castle.

“The biggest thing about Stephon is he’s a competitor. I already saw it when I got to San Antonio,” he said. “No matter what the circumstances or who he goes up against, he’ll compete. On the biggest stages, all the work he’s put in is showing. He’s physical [at the point of attack]With the elite wings and other defenders, and then you have Victor and Luke. [Kornet] Down on the shore, it’s like choosing your poison. You have to either shoot this pull-up or kick it out.

The Spurs are currently tied with the Cleveland Cavaliers for the third-best odds (+950) to win the title, trailing only the Denver Nuggets (+600) and Oklahoma City Thunder (+135). Wembanyama, Castle and Harper will still be on their rookie contracts next season.

Victor Wembanyama has a chance to become the NBA’s youngest-ever MVP during his third season. While he feels the success of the San Antonio Spurs is his strongest argument, he knows he must step up his individual performance to differentiate himself.

“I know I’m in the MVP conversation. Of course, that’s one of my goals,” Wembanyama said after Thursday’s win over the Brooklyn Nets. “I think the main argument for this is the team’s success. That’s always the first thing. But I also know that I need to push a little harder during the last part of the season to win awards.”

Wembanyama’s two-way play has led San Antonio to the NBA’s third-best record (43–16), just 1.5 games behind the Oklahoma City Thunder for the top spot. The Spurs are on an NBA-best 11-game winning streak in February.

Victor Wembanyama is making an MVP case as he leads the Spurs’ rise in the NBA standings

Wembyanyama is averaging 23.7 points, 11.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists on .501/.347/.815 shooting splits in 45 appearances. He and Nikola Jokic are the only NBA players to average marks on such efficiency.

Meanwhile, Wembanyama has solidified himself as the NBA’s top point guard while anchoring a San Antonio unit that ranks third in the NBA. The 22-year-old leads the league with 3.8 steals (steals + blocks) per game, which is 0.8 ahead of the next highest player (Scotty Barnes: 3.0). According to CleaningTheGlass, he has posted a -10.6 defensive rating swing (team points allowed per 100 possessions with a player on versus off), the league’s second-highest mark, trailing only Rudy Gobert (-12.7).

Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson said there was no doubt that Wambanyama had an MVP-level impact.

“He is a great facilitator to help his team win [as anybody],” Johnson said. ”The individual stuff that is identified as the best or most valuable is offense, defense, boards and everything that falls in between. He is at the forefront for [each of] They. And there are other guys in the league who do that, too. I haven’t delved into it, but I definitely think it’s in the conversation. It would be difficult for anyone to make a logical argument as to why he is not in that conversation.”

According to FanDuel Sportsbook, Wembanyama currently has the fourth-best MVP odds at +2500, behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (-250), Nikola Jokic (+400) and Cade Cunningham (+850). The French superstar can only miss three more games to maintain his eligibility for the award.

Anthony Edwards has exceeded all expectations placed on him since being drafted with the first overall pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2020. Fans thought he wasn’t as into basketball as any first-overall pick of the draft would be, but he has shattered everyone’s perception of him as he has become a true competitor, taking the Timberwolves to heights they have rarely reached in the past.

Edwards, every second he spends on the court, feels as if he is the best player on the court, no matter who he plays with on the court. The Timberwolves star, as fans now call him, has that “Dog” in him, because he loves to go up against the best and show that he is better than them.

Edwards’ belief in himself is infectious to such an extent that Klutch Sports’ star agent Rich Paul, who, as anyone may remember, once had the Timberwolves star as a client before deciding to change representation in 2023, is also in the promotion.

“I still think it’s a community, but I think that community is led by Anthony Edwards. I think Anthony Edwards is the best player in our league today,” Paul said on the Game Over podcast with Max Kellerman. “He’s the best player in the NBA, yes he is.”

Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards passes Rich Paul

Paul could use his ability to sweet-talk his clients to bring Edwards back to Klutch Sports, but still, the Timberwolves star has certainly accomplished some things that make him worthy of such hype. Now, calling him the “best” player in the NBA may be a bit of a hyperbole. Nonetheless, Paul believes Edwards ranks high among his peers.

Paul said, “The face of the league versus the best player. The face of the league, you have to grow into that, it’s something different. But the best player? Yeah, he’s the best player. You can’t watch a game against anybody on any given night and look at that game and say that guy is better than Anthony Edwards.”

Golden State Warriors All-Star Stephen Curry downplayed the recent fines imposed by the NBA on the Utah Jazz and Indiana Pacers for tanking during All-Star Media Day. After Warriors veteran Draymond Green called out Adam Silver for the NBA’s new All-Star Game format, Curry responded to the interesting topic of teams improving their chances of getting a good draft pick by keeping their best players on the bench.

Curry questions the seriousness of NBA tanking issue During his media availability on Saturday.

“Is it really that big of a problem? I’m asking. We think there’s obviously a lot of competition,” Curry said. “This is something I’m sure the NBA wants to discuss every year: Why does the play-in tournament exist. Things evolve, problems arise, and everyone wants to shine a light on all the negatives of the league. But let’s focus on the positives of how great the competition at the top is. The season-wise relevance of seeding and the playoff chase is still there.

“I know there’s a conversation going on about how many games we’re playing. That’s probably where I would focus more. Let’s not forget that the league is in a very good place in terms of attention, skill level, global reach, all of these things. Every year you’ll address issues. I don’t have those answers though,” Curry concluded.

Steph Curry was asked what he thinks the NBA should do to reduce tanking:

“Is it really that big of a problem? I’m asking. We think there’s obviously too much competition. I’m sure the NBA wants to look at why the play-in tournament exists every year. Things… pic.twitter.com/tMVMb1VaNK

– Ellie ✶ (@jinttherty) 14 February 2026

For Curry, the 82-game regular season should also be a topic of conversation. Perhaps shortening the game by 82 games or adding a week or two to the season would help given how challenging the NBA regular season can be, as Stephen Curry said.

Adam Silver addresses the tanking of NBA teams

Without any specific thoughts to disclose, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver confirmed that tanking is an issue in the league, which will be addressed in addition to the league’s recent fine. silver dealt with the topic During his availability at the media day.

“Every possible measure is now being discussed to stop this behavior,” Silver replied.

“Every possible measure is now being discussed to stop this behaviour.”

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver on the possibility of stripping teams of draft picks instead of issuing fines 🗣️pic.twitter.com/q9f45Xj0rd

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 14 February 2026

The NBA may announce new penalties in the near future for teams that sit their best players.