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).