Bronny James says he’s ignoring the buzz surrounding his future and his father’s plans with the Lakers. Speaking on Wednesday, the 20-year-old guard insisted he’s tuning out headlines and speculation. “A friend called me up and asked what my dad thinks about the Lakers’ direction, and I said, ‘I have no idea what you’re talking about,’” Bronny said with a smile. “I don’t really pay attention to that stuff.” Bronny seems committed to blocking out the noise as he prepares for his second season with the Lakers. He’s expected to spend the summer focused on development, not drama. LeBron recently picked up his $52.6 million player option to return for a record 23rd NBA season. But his agent Rich Paul raised eyebrows with vague comments suggesting the Lakers must prove they can compete, even while building around Luka Dončić. While some speculate LeBron could seek a trade if the Lakers don’t look like contenders by fall, Bronny isn’t letting that affect his mindset.

Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski underwent successful surgery to repair a core muscle injury. He is expected to fully recover and be ready in time for training camp. This marks Podziemski second procedure this offseason, following left wrist debridement surgery on May 27. Despite the back-to-back surgeries, the team remains optimistic about his recovery timeline. The 22-year-old had a breakout sophomore season in 2024-25, averaging a career-high 11.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.1 steals across 64 games (33 starts). He continued to deliver in the postseason, posting 11. 3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.3 steals in 32.1 minutes over 12 playoff games, starting 11 of them. With Podziemski expected back by camp, the Warriors hope he continues his upward trajectory heading into Year 3.

The Indiana Pacers moved one step closer to their first NBA title Wednesday night. They secured a 116-107 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 3 of the NBA Finals. Bennedict Mathurin exploded for a game-high 27 points in just 22 minutes on 12 shot attempts. He became the youngest player since 1970-71 to score 25+ points off the bench in a Finals game. His aggressive scoring helped the Pacers erase a five-point fourth-quarter deficit.  It was a major bounce-back showing for the 22-year-old swingman, who has endured an up-and-down postseason. After scoring just five points in Game 1, Mathurin seized the moment in front of a home crowd witnessing its first Finals game since 2000. Veteran guard T.J. McConnell also made his mark. He racked up 10 points, five assists, and five steals in 15 minutes. His relentless defense and floor generalship flustered the Thunder and earned him a place in history. He became the first player since 1973-74 (when steals became official) to post 10-5-5 off the bench in a Finals game. Together, Mathurin and McConnell helped swing the series in Indiana’s favor, giving the Pacers a 2-1 series lead heading into Game 4.

Don Nelson, a Hall of Fame coach renowned for his innovative basketball philosophy and a towering figure in NBA coaching history, has been named the recipient of the 2025 Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award by the National Basketball Coaches Association (NBCA). Nelson’s coaching career spanned an impressive 31 seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, and Dallas Mavericks. He compiled a remarkable 1,335-1,063 (.557) record, ranking second all-time in both wins and games coached with 2,398 contests. Nelson led his teams to the playoffs 18 times, securing eight division titles along the way. Before coaching, Nelson was a standout player at the University of Iowa, earning Team MVP, All-Big Ten, and two-time All-American honors. Drafted 17th overall in 1962 by the Chicago Zephyrs, he made his name primarily with the Boston Celtics, where he was a key contributor on five NBA championship teams (1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, and 1976). Known as an “iron man,” Nelson appeared in 465 consecutive games during his playing career. The Chuck Daly Award recognizes coaches who have made significant and lasting contributions to the game. Nelson joins a prestigious list of past winners, including Rudy Tomjanovich (2024), Rick Adelman (2023), Larry Brown (2021), Pat Riley (2012), and Lenny Wilkens (2011).

Tyrese Haliburton delivered the shot of his life  and perhaps in Indiana Pacers history. He sank a 21-foot jumper with 0.3 seconds left to complete a jaw-dropping 111-110 comeback win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the 2025  NBA Finals. The Pacers never led until that final moment. Down by 15 points with under 10 minutes to play, Indiana mounted the kind of rally that will be talked about for years. It matched the largest fourth-quarter comeback in Finals history since Dallas stunned Miami in 2011. According to Elias Sports Bureau, Haliburton’s game-winner marked the latest first lead by any team in a Finals game over the past 50 years. Social media erupted in the aftermath, with reactions pouring in from current and former NBA players  and Pacers superfan Caitlin Clark who watched the thriller. Even Haliburton took a moment to post, embracing the spotlight. For the Thunder, it was a brutal gut punch in what had looked like a sure victory at home. Now, the Pacers carry the momentum and a 1-0 series lead and Oklahoma City faces its first taste of adversity on basketball’s biggest stage.

Cason Wallace stepped into the spotlight Thursday night, earning his first career playoff start in Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals for the Oklahoma City Thunder.  The 21-year-old guard replaced Isaiah Hartenstein in the starting lineup, after OKC had used the same five: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lu Dort, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, and Hartenstein. At 21 years and seven months, Wallace became the youngest player to start an NBA Finals game since Tyler Herro in the 2020 Finals.  Wallace, who started 43 games in the regular season, averaged 8.4 points per game.  He had logged 26 playoff appearances over his first two seasons with OKC, but Thursday marked his first postseason start. Entering the Finals, he had been averaging 5. 4 points per game in the playoffs. His insertion into the starting lineup highlights the Thunder’s flexibility and trust in their young core as they chase their first championship since relocating to Oklahoma City.

Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey will undergo surgery on his left ankle after re-injuring it during a workout this week. Imaging revealed excessive ligamentous laxity, and the procedure will restabilize the ankle. Edey, who previously missed 12 games early in the season with a similar injury, will have a recovery timeline shared after surgery but is expected to make a full recovery. The 7-foot-3 rookie and two-time national player of the year at Purdue averaged 9.2 points and a rookie-best 8.3 rebounds across 66 games (55 starts).