Jase Richardson To Enter NBA Draft
Michigan State’s Jase Richardson tells Jonathan Givony of ESPN that he’ll declare for the NBA draft.
The 19-year-old guard averaged 12.1 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game with the Spartans this season while shooting 41% from three-point range. He earned a spot on the Big Ten’s All-Freshman Team and was named Third-Team All-Conference.
“I’m incredibly grateful to my teammates and coaches for the season we had,” Richardson said. “After evaluating everything with my family, this was the best decision for me. We had so many incredible moments as a team. Even though we didn’t go as far as I had hoped in the NCAA tournament, this is exactly how I wanted my freshman year to go. Winning the Big Ten championship and making the Elite Eight for the first time since 2019.”
The 6’3″ Richardson is viewed as a potential late lottery selection, ranking 13th in ESPN’s latest draft projections. Givony notes that his production increased after he was inserted into the starting lineup on February 8.
Givony cites Richardson’s “pace, skill level, feel for the game, perimeter shooting and high-intensity defense” as assets that he’ll bring to the NBA. He was also very accomplished at protecting the ball, committing just 30 turnovers in 912 minutes.
“Coach (Tom) Izzo taught me how to think the game through countless hours of film and conversations on and off the court,” Richardson said. “He actually coached me harder as the season moved on, pushing me more as he was putting more responsibility on my plate.”
Richardson, a second-generation player, is the son of Jason Richardson, who had a 13-year career in the NBA. Jase credits his father for putting him on the right track to succeed.
“My dad had the blueprint laid out for me for how I was going to get to my goals,” he said. “It’s really special to have someone like him next to me that has been through the process. I am always asking him for feedback and advice. We’re totally different players, so I don’t feel any pressure if people expect me to do what he did. I need to go out and show myself on my own.”
BYU’s Egor Demin To Declare For NBA Draft
BYU freshman Egor Demin has decided to enter the NBA draft, a source tells Jonathan Givony of ESPN.
The 19-year-old guard is considered a borderline lottery pick, ranking 12th in ESPN’s draft projections and 15th in the latest mock draft from Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report.
Demin averaged 10.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 5.5 assists in 27.5 minutes per game this season and was named to the Big 12 All-Freshman team.
At 6’9″, Demin played point guard for the Cougars, leading them to a 26-10 record and an appearance in the Sweet 16 for the first time in 15 years. Givony notes that he showed creativity with his passing — finishing fourth in the conference in assists — but frequently had issues with outside shooting, turnovers and defense.
Demin was born in Moscow and moved to Spain when he was 15 to play for Real Madrid. He became one of the top prospects in European basketball, prompting BYU to pay a $1MM buyout to Real Madrid for his services.
Teams Express Loyalty To EuroLeague Amid Looming NBA Europe Venture
Facing a potential threat from NBA Europe, 13 EuroLeague shareholders met Monday in Barcelona to find out who is committed to staying in the league. Sources tell Domantas Urbonas of BasketNews that most of the clubs in attendance pledged their loyalty to the EuroLeauge, although the sentiment wasn’t unanimous.
Urbonas’ sources say that Fenerbahce in Turkey and Panathinaikos in Greece, which have been mentioned as NBA Europe possibilities, were among those who made the strongest EuroLeague commitments. Rather than leaving, they expressed a desire to strengthen the current league and help it grow.
Less certain are two Spanish clubs, Real Madrid and Barcelona. Real Madrid, whose 10-year license with the EuroLeague will expire after 2026, is viewed as a prime target by the organizers of NBA Europe, according to Urbonas’ sources. Barcelona declined to take a strong stance at Monday’s meeting, and sources tell Urbonas that it will likely go wherever Real Madrid does.
France’s ASVEL Basket, which is owned by former NBA star Tony Parker, and Italy’s Olimpia Milano both asked for additional time before committing to the EuroLeague’s proposed long-term licensing agreement, Urbonas adds. Parker has been open about engaging in discussions with NBA Europe.
Sources tell Urbonas that seven of the clubs represented at Monday’s meeting have already formalized a long-term commitment to the EuroLeague, with at least four more expected to follow. He notes that those intentions have been communicated to the teams’ shareholders and are unlikely to change.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver has been working with FIBA to establish the new league in Europe, and Urbonas states that FIBA secretary general Andreas Zagklis made a presentation at Monday’s gathering.
The other clubs represented at the meeting were Anadolu Efes in Turkey, Baskonia in Spain, Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel, Olympiacos in Greece, FC Bayern Munich in Germany, Zalgiris in Lithuania and CSKA Moscow in Russia.
Sixers’ Nurse: Health Of Embiid, George Crucial For Next Season
The Sixers‘ nightmare season is about to end, but there are no guarantees that next season will be any better or that their stars will be any healthier. Before Monday’s game at Miami, which marked Philadelphia’s 12th straight loss and its 29th in 32 games, coach Nick Nurse talked about the prospects for 2025/26, acknowledging that everything centers around the availability of Joel Embiid and Paul George, writes Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer.
“There’s, obviously, a good number of them that need to get taken care of, get back to health, but obviously, Joel and Paul will be the big concerns,” Nurse said. “Can they get back and get ready to go? And I guess we won’t find that out for a little while, and then you start unpacking and then you get back to thinking there’s some really, really good players there and start piecing it together and then we get ready to build out the rest of the roster around them.”
Embiid dealt with left knee issues all season long and was limited to just 19 games. Swelling in the knee delayed his season debut until November 12, and he was in an out of the lineup after that. He was eventually shut down for good on February 28 and will undergo arthroscopic surgery later this week.
Embiid remains a force when he’s healthy, having averaged 23.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists in 30.2 minutes per game, but the Sixers will need him on the court far more often to be competitive. The extension he signed last summer gives him $179MM in guaranteed money over the next three years, with a $69MM player option for 2028/29.
The Sixers viewed George as the missing piece to a title contender when they signed him to a four-year max deal in free agency. Various injuries limited him to 41 games before he was ruled out for the rest of the season on March 17 due to adductor and knee issues.
George averaged 16.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists in his first season with Philadelphia, but he never reached the All-Star level he displayed during his time with the Clippers. He’s owed $51.7MM next season, $54.1MM in 2026/27 and holds a $56.6MM player option for 2027/28.
As Pompey notes, the Sixers’ injury woes didn’t end with their two veteran stars. Tyrese Maxey appeared in just 52 games and hasn’t played since March 3 due to an injured finger tendon. Rookie guard Jared McCain quickly found his way into the rotation, but was lost for the season after 23 games with a torn meniscus. Andre Drummond, Eric Gordon, Kyle Lowry and several others have also missed significant time due to injuries.
The results have been ugly, as the Sixers have struggled to field a competitive team since the All-Star break. Nurse used his 53rd different starting lineup of the season on Monday, Pompey notes in a separate story, consisting of Lonnie Walker, Quentin Grimes, Adem Bona, Marcus Bagley and Jared Butler. Pompey points out that Bona was the only member of that group who was on the roster before February.
Lakers Notes: OKC Win, Defense, James, Doncic, DFS, Reaves, Bronny
The Lakers made a statement with their resounding victory over the Western Conference’s top team on Sunday, Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times writes. They hammered the Thunder, 126-99.
“We know it’s the final stretch into the full season, so we’re just trying to rack up great habits,” LeBron James said.
Luka Doncic had 30 points and six assists, while James contributed 19 points. They also made a season-high 22 three-pointers.
We have more on the Lakers:
- The Lakers’ defense was just as stellar as their offense on Sunday, as they held OKC 21 points below its average for the season. MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was limited to 26 points and didn’t get to the free throw line. “Defending the way we defended and holding this team under 100 with a [96] possession game, that’s elite defense. That’s gonna give you a chance to win every night,” coach JJ Redick said, per Khobi Price of the Orange County Register.
- It’s anyone’s guess which players will suit up for the rematch against the Thunder on Tuesday. James and Doncic are listed as questionable due to groin strains, while Dorian Finney-Smith and Austin Reaves are also questionable with ankle injuries. Price tweets. Gabe Vincent (knee) is a 50-50 proposition too, while Rui Hachimura (knee) is out.
- The Los Angeles Times’ Bill Plaschke says he was wrong to criticize the Lakers for drafting Bronny James. Plaschke notes Bronny averaged 22 points, five rebounds and five assists in his last 11 games with the G League’s South Bay Lakers. He scored 30 or more points three times at that level and showed he has the potential to develop into a legitimate NBA player.
Pacific Notes: Curry, Udoka, Kings Pick, LaRavia, Beal
Stephen Curry was hot on the court in recent games but he was only hot at the officials and the opposing coach on Sunday. After scoring 125 points combined in wins over the Grizzlies, Lakers and Nuggets, the Warriors superstar had more turnovers (four) than points (three) in the Rockets’ 106-96 win, Anthony Slater of The Athletic notes.
While heading to the locker room at halftime, Curry seemed frustrated about the way he was being defended. He crossed paths with Houston coach Ime Udoka, who said something to Curry that led to a terse exchange.
“When people start complaining about foul calls or crying about physicality, you’ve done your job,” Udoka said. “That’s the first step in winning the battle. So I told my team, when this team starts crying about it, up the intensity, up the aggressiveness, and make the refs adjust to you.”
We have more from the Pacific Division:
- The Kings owe the Hawks a first-rounder which is top-12 protected in this year’s draft. It’s still very much uncertain whether that pick will be conveyed, given Sacramento’s current status as a play-in team. James Ham of The Kings Beat takes an in-depth look at the scenarios where the Kings might retain the pick.
- Kings forward Jake LaRavia is progressing through his rehab for what is now being called an incomplete scaphoid fracture of his left thumb, Ham tweets. LaRavia, who has been cleared for light on-court workouts, has been sidelined since March 25. He averaged 8.6 points and 3.3 rebounds in 22.8 minutes per game last month.
- What should the Suns do with Bradley Beal this offseason — trade the oft-injured wing, waive him and use the stretch provision to spread out the financial burden, or buy him out? Gerald Bourguet of GoPhnx.com (subscription required) takes a deep dive into each of those possibilities.
Central Notes: Mitchell, Niang, LeVert, White, Dupree, Cunningham
If the Cavaliers clinch the top seed in the Eastern Conference on Tuesday, they’ll do it without Donovan Mitchell. The star guard is listed as out against the Bulls due to an ankle sprain, Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com tweets. Mitchell was injured on Sunday when he stepped on Keon Ellis’s foot during a loss to the Kings.
We have more from the Central Division:
- The trade that sent Georges Niang and Caris LeVert from the Cavaliers to the Hawks came as somewhat of a surprise to both players, Jake Fischer reports in a column for The Stein Line. The deal only moved forward when the Hawks dropped their original asking price of multiple first-round picks for forward De’Andre Hunter. “It takes anybody by surprise until it happens, right?” Niang told said. “You’re like, ‘Nah, that’s not gonna be me.’ And then when it happens, after it I’m like, ‘It kinda makes sense.’ The money, shortening the rotation to kind of have one guy replace two, it kinda all made sense. But it took some time to digest it. I think All-Star break was perfect for that.”
- The Bulls won’t have Coby White available for the matchup with Cleveland. White is being rested in the first game of a back-to-back, the Sun Sentinel’s Ira Winderman tweets. Chicago faces Miami on Wednesday.
- Bucks front office executive Ronald Dupree is returning to alma mater LSU as the GM of the men’s basketball program, ESPN’s Shams Charania tweets. Dupree spent eight years in the Bucks front office.
- Pistons All-Star Cade Cunningham is back in action after missing two weeks of action due to a calf contusion. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff said the fact that his team has already clinched a first-round berth will help his star get fully healthy for the playoffs. “We’ve got some time, so that’s a good thing. It’s not something that we have to rush into,” he said. “The play-in week will be good for us also because we can take advantage of the conditioning without games to plan for … we’re in a great spot.” He’s getting better but we just want to make sure he’s right … he knows what it takes for his body to be where it needs to be and we trust him.”
Mavericks Notes: Play-In Race, Davis, Powell, Harrison, Cuban
Back-to-back losses to the Clippers pushed the Mavericks down to 10th place in the Western Conference standings. They were blasted in the second of those games, 135-104, on Saturday night.
“The biggest message is we got to stay hungry,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said, per Grant Afseth of DallasHoopsJournal.com (Substack link). “We haven’t achieved anything, even though we’ve been able, with all the injuries and restricted minutes, to keep ourselves in the play-in race. And so, we have to stay hungry.
“We had a big win at home against Atlanta. Unfortunately, we didn’t play up to par here against the Clippers. We have to go back home now, and we have games with the Lakers and Toronto. Hopefully, we can protect home court and we can get a little rhythm going into the play-in.”
Dallas will be fresh for the matchup with the Lakers — they don’t play until Wednesday night.
We have more on the Mavericks:
- One of the positives out of Saturday’s game is that Anthony Davis produced 27 points and nine rebounds, Eddie Sefko of Mavs.com notes. Davis sat out the first matchup with the Clippers on the front end of the back-to-back. “You look at AD at (power forward), you’d say that we’re going to have the advantage on most nights,” Kidd said. “And that’s going to create the double team or if they play straight up we can win that matchup. He’s always wanted to play the four. And the plan is to keep him at the four, but at the end of the day, you want your best five out there to win the game so sometimes that might mean he slides over to the five (center). He’s a special talent because he can guard one through five. So I believe that him at the four defensively and offensively gives us an advantage to win.”
- With the team getting some key pieces back in recent weeks, Dwight Powell is eager to see how well former Lakers Davis and Max Christie blend with their new teammates, he told Afseth in an RG.org interview. “Competitors. They’re here for the right reasons, and they want to help us be successful,” Powell said. “That’s all you can ask for in this league. So I’m excited to get everybody kind of get the chemistry going, and I think we’ve seen glimpses and I think we’ll continue to see more. Just excited for everybody to continue to grow together.”
- In his latest Substack article, Marc Stein describes how the Luka Doncic trade was crafted and examines its aftermath. Stein details how general manager Nico Harrison gained so much power in the front office and why Mark Cuban’s influence on personnel decisions waned.
Osceola Magic, Stockton Kings To Compete In NBAGL Finals
The Osceola Magic (Orlando’s affiliate) and the Stockton Kings (Sacramento’s affiliate) will compete in this year’s NBA G League Finals, a best-of-three series that will begin on Tuesday night.
The NBAGL’s playoffs have a much different setup than the NBA’s, as only 12 teams advance instead of 16, with the top-two seeds from each conference receiving a first-round bye. The conference quarterfinals, semifinals and finals are also single elimination instead of taking place over multiple games.
Both Osceola and Stockton went 22-12 during the regular season, finishing as the top seeds in their respective conferences.
Led by 42 points from Mac McClung, who is on a two-way contract, the Magic defeated the Maine Celtics to advance from the East. Out West, Stockton defeated the Austin Spurs in the conference final behind 38 points from Mason Jones, who is on a two-way deal with the Kings. Terry Taylor, who signed a 10-day contract with Sacramento last month, finished with 27 points and 10 rebounds.
Game 1 of the NBA G League Finals will take place in Osceola on Tuesday at 7 pm CT (ESPNU). Game 2 will be played in Stockton on Friday at 9 pm CT (ESPNews). If necessary, Game 3 will be next Monday in Osceola at 7 pm CT (ESPN2).
Leonard, Antetokounmpo Named Players Of The Week
Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard has been named the Western Conference’s Player of the Week, according to the NBA (Twitter link), while Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo has won the award in the East.
Leonard helped guide the Clips to a perfect 4-0 week for games played from March 31 to April 6, averaging 24.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.8 steals on .513/.381/.857 shooting.
The two-time Finals MVP missed the first 35 games of the season due to a knee injury, but he has rounded into form at a critical time, scoring 20-plus points in each of the past 12 games. Los Angeles is currently the No. 5 seed in a remarkably close Western Conference playoff race.
Antetokounmpo was spectacular in leading the Bucks to three victories last week (he missed one game, which Milwaukee also won), averaging 36.0 points, 12.3 rebounds, 13.7 assists and 1.7 steals on .638/.500/.838 shooting.
The 30-year-old superstar’s efforts helped the Bucks secure their ninth straight playoff appearance. Milwaukee is currently 44-34, the East’s No. 5 seed.
This is Antetokounmpo’s third Player of the Week award in 2024/25, and 26th of his career. It’s the first time Leonard has earned the weekly honor this season, and 10th time in his career.
Despite averaging 45.0 points, 12.3 rebounds, 10.7 assists and 2.0 steals on .620/.448/.800 shooting in three appearances last week, including an incredible 61-point triple-double, Nikola Jokic somehow wasn’t nominated for the West’s award, presumably because the Nuggets went 0-4 (he missed one game).
Instead, Leonard beat out Deni Avdija, Stephen Curry, Anthony Edwards, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Austin Reaves, Alperen Sengun and teammate Ivica Zubac. The other nominees in the East were OG Anunoby, Donovan Mitchell, Magic forwards Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, Bulls guards Josh Giddey and Coby White, and Pacers teammates Tyrese Haliburton and Myles Turner (Twitter link).