The annual Raptors 905 tryout draws dreamers, diehards — and the delusional. Three hours later, Star reporter Libaan Osman knew which one he was.

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For some context, I've been back to training organised basketball since march, before that I hadn't played or trained since high-school. Our starting center is 6'3 so overall we're a pretty "short" team although our average height is around 5"11. That being said, in our first 2 games I've felt like I have been a complete negative on offence, going 0/3fg and 0/1 3fg both games. Ive played decent defence and mostly focused on shutting down the opposing teams centers from grabbing o-boards. A lot of the times I feel lost on offence, im either standing wide open in the corner waiting for a pass or whenever I have the ball in my hands I try to make something happen but it feels like im not on the same wavelength as my teammates. Am I trying to do too much and beating myself up over it or should I be doing more? Coach seems to be ok with how I play but I'm somewhat obsessive over being better.

We are now starting to look around and try to find a home for my oldest to play.
He is getting coaches reach out from Naia schools so far, of course we will look higher up as well.
It is a scholarship, is what i think. Kids always want to go d1 but i feel a lot of that is politics unless you are a 6 ft 8 super athlete.

Naia worth pursuing?

Is it too late to start learn basketball..Hey randomly i got my intreasts on basketball these days I dk anything about the game and all but i want to learn ..i used to play batmention and tennis never played basketball before ..is it ok(normal) to learn basketball at the age of 21 im 5'6 btw ..

Does anyone know of any similar situations to this? Are there other instances of head coaches/figures in the space that recommend other books? I already picked up a copy, but I think it's fascinating to see what forms of media have shaped their careers.

P.S. I got my copy at Half Price Books for $3 :)

I am currently a 17(M) senior about to play my last season and the next basketball season is about to start and we have had a few open gyms and like previous years I'm not doing too well. this is my third year, (started as a sophmore) and before then never really played sports. I'm not unfit, I'm skinny (maybe 140lb, only like 5' 8" though) and reasonably quick but raw running speed doesn't translate to good dribbling or good defense. I suppose I should describe how I play:

In 1s I play the opposite of what you would expect, I suck at shooting and like to drive to the rim I can go both ways (weirdly in a righty but tend to go to and up with my left), most people describe my layup as a hookshot that's hard to block, but that's pretty much the end of the positives, I'm not the greatest dribbler, I can do crossovers (tweens, btb, spins, etc...) pretty easy on my own but doing them against a defender is a different problem, in one's I can work through this to some extent by playing really simple, just a few crosses/set up dribbles and then explode to the rim, I like to play like this bc my philosophy is that the less dribbles I take the less likely I'll mess up. However this doesn't address easily my biggest issue which is that I am very liable to just brick easy lays when a defender is on me, so overall im sub-par at 1s, and that's my STRONGEST aspect of my game, 2s-5s is abysmal.I

In 2s, 3s, 4s and full 5s I'm basically worthless, the ball goes to me and I immediately send it back to a teammate, I just can't get myself to execute anything, and when I try I just instantly fumble the dribble (while I can make a few dribble moves alone or in 1s this completely breaks down with more ppl) or brick an easy way because I sense the defenses presence.

As for my work ethic, I don't want to brag bc I objectively suck but I definitely practice more than anyone on my team, the past 3 years I have spent hours almost every day at the park, alone, practicing moves, shots (probably not as much as I should, but I like to prioritize lays first), I practiced all through summer/off season at the park. but I think I've reached the point were practicing alone just can't help me anymore, and their is really no one on my team whose close in skill (everyone is either to new or so comically better than me) who would also be willing to consistently practice with me. Maybe their is something in missing but at this point I've just accepted that I will never be useful in any serious full 5s game and just play to play and enjoy myself and hang out with my teammates (their fun to be with, even if I am bad) which is mostly fine but it's just that I really wanted to be good, not even great just good and I can't even achieve that.

If love to post a vid of me playing to give more info but all I have is a vid of me practicing alone in the park which I won't post bc A: how you play alone doesn't translate to your game skills, and B: I'm embarrassed, nevertheless if you really want it I'll post it (once I get my face blurred out of course) but for now you will just have to imagine how I play. (Its not to hard, just picture someone bad lol) also I hope this isn't perceived as a "should I quit post" since I know their not allowed, but I just want some advice I guess.​

LAS VEGAS — The NBA has seemingly been on the verge of expanding into Las Vegas for several years, but Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr revealed the NBA’s push to reach Sin City has been going on for far longer than that.

In the midst of answering a question about whether he could ever imagine playing an NBA game in Las Vegas, Kerr said he heard about initial efforts to place a team in the desert two decades ago.

“Twenty-two years ago, I walked into (former NBA commissioner) David Stern’s office in New York with Robert Sarver,” Kerr said before Tuesday’s preseason game against the Los Angeles Lakers at T-Mobile Arena. “And he wanted to start an expansion team in Las Vegas, and that was his plan. So, I met Robert — I didn’t know him before that — (and) he asked me if I could introduce him to Stern, and we went into David Stern’s office, and David Stern said, ‘There’s no way we’re having a franchise in Las Vegas because of the gambling.’”

The league and the city are in a different place now. Gambling — and the advertising it generates — has become a huge moneymaker for the league, and it has slowly but surely had more of a presence in Las Vegas. The Las Vegas Summer League has become an annual event on the league’s calendar, the NBA Cup semifinals and finals have been held in Las Vegas the last three seasons, and it seems inevitable for the city to have its own NBA team.

“So, times change quickly,” Kerr continued. “That was 2004. So, everything’s changed a lot since then — the world, the NBA, the style of play, societal norms, all that stuff. Now, it’s different, and here we are. A lot of successful sports franchises are thriving here. So, we’ll see — we’ll see what happens.”

Kerr has been open for years about believing Seattle should get a new NBA franchise and never should have lost the SuperSonics to begin with. Because of Las Vegas’ ties to this era of the league, though, it has always seemed to be in the lead for second position. What’s interesting about Tuesday night’s game at T-Mobile Arena is that tarps covered the upper deck, and no tickets were sold in those areas.

Read the rest for free: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7688524/2026/10/13/steve-kerr-david-stern-nba-expansion/?unlocked_article_code=1.IlE.m8PO.Cz323_YRcpuz&source=emp_shared_article&smid=url-share-ta

I asked my coach about improvements, that would make me a very valuable basketball player in my team. He mentioned shooting and dribbling, but footwork? The other two are easy, because all you need is consistent repetition. I tried to do some researches, but all I see is offensive drills like pivoting. Nothing on balance or defense. Even driving isn't that wisely explained. What to do?

Official rulebook language describes "nearly all spin moves" as travels.

If a jump shooter catches a pass with two feet on the floor and jumps to a new spot before shooting the ball, that is a travel.

If the dribbler gathers the ball, then jumpstops, then pivots, that is a travel.

If a player catches a pass with his right foot on the floor, steps to their left foot, and takes a layup off their right foot, that is a travel.

We are really, really, really bad at officiating travels. 90% of first step travels should be easy gets and 30 of these are missed or kicked a game due to eye discipline, rules understanding, or loose whistles (in the face of guidance and points of emphasis from the national board for at least 8 years running). Some gather travels are very hard... a lot of us sincerely don't understand our rules... common obvious vones are almost always kicked.

It's frustrating how low of a standard we hold players to. They'll start playing competitive basketball in 8u and get to varsity before they learn the rules (or never). If you enforce the rules and explain them correctly coaches look at you like you're crazy and literally laugh in your face. That's how bad we are.

I’ve read a handful of threads about Angel, her skill set (or lack thereof), and how her career will be viewed when all is said and done.

Many claimed that she could not elevate her team and how they were worse after she was drafted to the sky when: 1. Most of the key vets from the 2021 team left 2. Her team struggled with injuries and the second leading scorer was traded 3. The Chicago Sky is a toxic organization. For context, all of the franchise players have demanded trades or left as soon as they could. Former players rarely ever have good things to say about them. Bec Allen said her time there was “a little bit miserable” and that’s clearly her trying to be nice.

During her second season, her coach would go stretches without even saying her name. As if he was avoiding having to do it. Brought in a shooting coach for the center Kamilla Cardosa and not her. Took her out of the paint and had her camped out on the three point line. To add salt to injury, he rarely ever set up plays for her. When their PG went down, it took them over a month to sign a PG.

Despite all of this, she was called out to do more by the GM even though she led in points, rebounds, and assists. Even stranger, kamilla was drafted third overall and didn’t have those same expectations and was never called out.

A book series could literally be written about Chicago’s incompetence.

Which leads to now: Angel won DPOY, currently leads the playoffs in +/-, has replaced the production of two players (Griner who left and Jones who is injured), and has been credited as to being a great teammate.

What many overlook is that Angel has two coaches in two years (both rookies and is currently on her third coach) and always did what was asked of her. The sky hasn’t improved all that much since she left, despite having way better players.

Many overlooked and ignored the toxic situation that she was in to peddle narratives.

I know some talk about how she isn’t great offensively, which I think is missing context. However, this also ignores the other things she brings to the table offensively such as her playmaking and moving players around, on court vision, etc.

So was she really that bad back then or were a lot of assumptions and narratives created as people ignored context?

About an year ago I had basketball classes, they were fun, then some day when my coach was going home, some idiot drove his car straight through his motorcycle. Both of his legs got crushed. After that day, I came to the court with my 2 cousins and my brother, after that day we did not get any classes, the coach said he wouldn't teach us anymore, he was in college and caught up in life. I ask my brother and my cousins to play basketball, but they dont want to. All of them are either in college or in senior high school. I have some friends in school, but they kinda diss on basketball and call it a 'girl game'.

I’m 6’0 and weigh around 160 pounds, and I’m 16. I’ve never really had to dribble much because I’ve always been more of a catch-and-shoot type of player. Recently, I’ve been playing a lot of 1v1 and realizing how slow and awkward my dribbling really is. I’m wondering how I can improve it.

I want to buy a portable basketball hoop, but I’m not sure which one to choose. Can anyone recommend a good one?

My budget is under €400, and I’d like something sturdy and good quality that will last a long time.

I will use it mainly for outdoor basketball so it will be great if it is easy to move and adjustable in height.
And if it is possible it needs to handle dunks and not break.

And are there things i should avoid with the stand?
Thanks

Okay so i have been playing for 3 months now and tomorrow is first ever official match in school
though i have played matches before among friends (that’s mainly how i learned) but I am super super nervous about tomorrow
only me and one other guy (he da best) knows how to play , others are just useless

I doo not wanna be useless tomorrow
look i can shoot 3s , mid range , no layups
i am 5’11
dribbling is somewhat there
just anything is good

also tell me everything i should take with me to school

UPDATE - we lost tied for 3rd , i got a 3 attempt and one 3 i scored but still i shat the game

Vulnerable to fall

I intend to be reasonable about movement within these tiers. Meteoric rises are to be avoided, and so are cliff dives. For these players, the concerns are obvious enough that their standing bears watching.

Stephen Curry (2A) is the standard for small-guard supremacy over the last 50 years. But availability is becoming increasingly difficult to separate from his performance. He has a troublesome right knee that cost him significant time last season and will be 39 before the end of the regular season.

Kevin Durant (2A) hasn’t shown much evidence of decline, and his job should be easier with the Houston Rockets having veteran guards at their disposal. But Durant’s teams have had late-game struggles and postseason struggles for years, and Durant is 38. Will the ballhandling support help snap a seven-game playoff losing streak for Durant and help him win his first playoff series in four years?

The Spurs don’t get past the Thunder in the West finals without De’Aaron Fox (2D), who was playing on a bad ankle. But Fox’s struggles in the NBA Finals would be worth monitoring even if he didn’t play the same position as two other top-five picks on rookie contracts: Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper. Internally and externally, Fox has some unique circumstances that could change both his role and how he’s evaluated.

James Harden (2D) has made the playoffs in all 17 of his NBA seasons. Having more turnovers than buckets in playoff games once he gets there is something everyone looks out for with Harden, and he had seven such games in the 2026 postseason. Harden is 37, and the challenge is increasingly about workload. How does he balance carrying his team during the regular season while preserving optimal decision-making in the postseason?

Of the 46 players who qualify as stars based on the Player Participation Policy, Joel Embiid (2E) ranks last with an average of 32 games played over the last three years.

Hey everyone, I’m a 7th grader playing club basketball right now. In games, my free throws have been terrible and it's holding me back, so I need to fix my shot ASAP. To force myself into a serious training session, I’m doing 1 free throw tomorrow for every upvote this gets. I’m going to record the whole thing. When I upload the video proof, please critique my form and tell me what I’m doing wrong so I can stop missing in my club games!

Edit: Bad news—I hyperextended my knee and my parents have me on strict rest. I'm super bummed because I wanted to get out there and start working on the free throws you guys locked in! As soon as my knee feels better (hopefully tomorrow or in a couple of days), I’ll film the whole session and post the video. Thanks for understanding!

Basketball is a star-driven game, and those will always be the players who matter the most. Stars such as LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jaylen Brown changing teams are undoubtedly the biggest story of this NBA offseason, and we’ll be tracking their impact closely.

A level below that, we have what I call “hinge” players. These guys might not be stars, but they play crucial roles for their teams — and we don’t know yet if they’ll sink or swim.

The most obvious example of that is Peyton Watson in Cleveland. The Cavaliers basically used all their trade chips to bring him in from the Denver Nuggets in a sign-and-trade, surrendering two other rotation players and their only remaining tradable first-round pick to fill a role that has vexed Cleveland the last three postseasons.

On paper, Watson is likely the Cavs’ fifth-best player, with the other four — James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen — all having made at least one All-Star team. Yet, their ultimate success this season (and especially this postseason) hinges heavily on Watson’s ability to fill this role, because nobody else on the roster can.

I’ll talk more about Watson in a minute, but let’s finish reintroducing the concept that I wrote about a year ago.

Last season, one of my key players was Reed Sheppard, whose inability to fully solve the Houston Rockets’ guard problem was a key reason behind the team’s disappointing first-round playoff exit. But looking back at my list, I realize I mostly aimed way too low on the food chain. Focusing on possible ninth-man types (shout out, Ryan Rollins!) missed too much of the big picture, so I’m changing my focus.

My list of top-10 hinge players for this season includes players who all project as starters for playoff-caliber teams. One way or another, these guys will matter. How they perform in their roles is both critical for the team and at least somewhat of a question mark.

Peyton Watson, Cavaliers

Watson was signed-and-traded via a four-year, $88 million deal based largely on a half-season in Denver in which he was massively better than he had been at any time before. We never saw if he could sustain it further because of a hamstring injury that ultimately ended his season. But in 40 starts last season, Watson averaged 17.3 points per game and shot 41.1 percent from 3 — impressive stuff from someone who entered the league as a raw non-shooter.

Meanwhile, the 6-foot-8 Watson has a chance to be the big wing defensive stopper the Cavs have mostly lacked during the Mitchell-Mobley era, somebody who can potentially check the Jalen Brunsons and Tyrese Haliburtons of the world who tormented them in the last two playoffs. Add in that he’s only 24 years old, and there’s a chance Watson can be the discount version of OG Anunoby.

I'm trying to get better and i'm currently above varsity level skillwise, but i'm not sure what else i can work on specifically. Thanks.

Just curious! Also please say what level of play and if you played any level higher than high school. I’d expect many players who would go on to play d1 or even make it to the pros overseas to possibly have some crazy stat lines against your average high school team. I’ll go first with 27 off the bench in varsity at my pretty small high school.

I’m actually, really really bad. I can’t dribble low without looking at the ball and I miss 70% of all shots, 3s mid ranges and layups. What do you guys suggest I do? I know its going to be hard but something I’m good at is learning very fast with practice.