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FEATURES OF THE DAY
How a legendary figure from Steve Kerr’s Chicago days still influences the Warriors’ coach
Joseph Dycus, Mercury News
Keon Ellis has so much potential but cannot grow without the one thing the Kings won’t give him
Ian Goodwillie, A Royal Pain
Dylan Harper’s Elite Skill Has Translated Immediately for the San Antonio Spurs | Film School
Tyler Metcalf, No Ceilings
TEAM-SPECIFIC
ATL: Hawks fall in rematch to Bulls
Lauren Williams, AJC
BKN: The Nets’ tank is staring down a Michael Porter dilemma
Brian Lewis, NY Post
The Nets signaled their intent from the highest levels.
“We have one pick in 2026, and we hope to get a good pick,” Nets owner Joe Tsai said earlier. “So you can predict what kind of strategy we will use for the season.”
Sources who spoke with The Post insist the plan hasn’t changed. But is it possible that the tank has been knocked off track? They’d won five of their past eight and had just the sixth-best lottery odds after being tied for first in mid-November.
BKN: Egor Demin answers the call after getting tough love from Jordi Fernandez
Brian Lewis, NY Post
BKN: Nolan Traore makes most of rare Nets chance —and could be in line for more
Howie Kussoy, NY Post
CHA: Key takeaways from the Hornets’ third win in their past five games
Roderick Boone, Charlotte Oberver
CHI: Can the Bulls keep outscoring their opponents — or is their defense on the hot seat again?
Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune
CLE: Donovan Mitchell diary: ‘We’re at that crossroad, right?
Marc J. Spears, Andscape
DAL: Flagg leads Mavs over Nuggets, draws praise from Jokic
Tim MacMahon, ESPN
DAL: Lessons learned one year after Luka Doncic played his last game as a Maverick
Mette Robertson, Mavs Moneyball
DEN: One Starter After Another: Cam Johnson Suffers Bone Bruise
Brendan Vogt, The DNVR
DET: J.B. Bickerstaff carries father’s qualities in leading Pistons’ ascent
Coty Davis, Detroit News
GSW: How a legendary figure from Steve Kerr’s Chicago days still influences the Warriors’ coach
Joseph Dycus, Mercury News
Warriors coach Steve Kerr on the legendary Tex Winter: ‘He was a man of principle’
GSW; To maximize Draymond Green, Warriors must accept the player he is today
Nick Friedell, The Athletic
GSW: Klay returns on Christmas to face former students Moody and Podziemski
Daniel Hardee, Golden State Of Mind
Klay’s return isn’t nostalgia.it’s a measuring stick for Moody, Podziemski, and a franchise living with its choices
GSW: This Christmas, the Warriors are stuck, and Steph Curry’s time is running out
Nick Friedell, The Athletic
IND: Pacers facing frustrations after loss to Bucks extends losing streak
Tom Lewis, Indy Cornrows
IND: Siakam’s frustrations rising with Pacers’ losses
Dustin Dopirak, Indy Star
LAC: Kawhi Leonard, Clippers dismantle Rockets for 2nd straight win
Janis Carr, OC Register
LAL: Game Preview: Game 29 vs Rockets
Iztok Franko, digginbasketball
LAL: JJ Redick blunt about Lakers’ effort, defense after blowout
Dave McMenamin, ESPN
LAL: JJ Redick delivers blunt criticism of Lakers’ defensive effort
Khobi Price, OC Register
MEM: How GG Jackson took advantage in Grizzlies’ road win vs Utah Jazz
Damichael Cole, Commercial Appeal
MIA: Heat searching for answers amid nightmarish December
Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald
MIL: Bucks need to keep Ryan Rollins
Dalton Sell, Behind The Buck Pass
MIN: DiVincenzo’s playmaking is uplifting the Wolves
Eamon Cassels, Dunking With Wolves
MIN: Rudy Gobert is once again playing like a DPOY
Eamon Cassels, Dunking With Wolves
NYK: ‘A psychopath. A lunatic.’: Knicks’ Mikal Bridges still hasn’t missed a game
Kristian Winfield, Daily News
ORL: Anthony Black’s spot-starting flexibility is the gift that keeps on giving
Ryan Kaminski, Sports Illustrated
Being able to replace the point guard, shooting guard, small forward, and even power forward on any given night is an insane luxury of depth for the Magic’s coaching staff; Anthony Black is this team’s official spot-starter.
AB keeps improving with more touches as the season goes on: over his first 28gm, Black posted 15 PTS – 4 REB – 4 AST – 1.9 stocks; over his last 17gm, he’s up to 17 PTS – 5 REB – 4 AST – 2 stocks.
Orlando’s coaching staff trusts Anthony Black as a starter in any perimeter position primarily because he defends hard while usually guarding the opposing team’s best player whether it’s at point guard or power forward; and, beyond that elite defense, AB looks for the open man, spaces the floor, has grown incredibly confident in his handles, and attacks the rim like no tomorrow.
AB defends, switches, digs, shoots, drives, kicks, and creates, a rare combination of a skills for a 6’7″ player who considers himself a tall point guard, who can also switch onto any non-bigs in the league.
PHX: NBA exec, former Suns GM James Jones dialed in on prep star son J.D.
Richard Obert, Arizona Republic
PHX: Jamaree Bouyea shows you don’t need big minutes to make a big impact
Pano, Bright Side Of The Sun
POR: Two days. Two heartbreakers in Portland
Conor Bergin, Blazer’s Edge
SAC: Keon Ellis has so much potential but cannot grow without the one thing the Kings won’t give him
Ian Goodwillie, A Royal Pain
SAS: Dylan Harper’s Elite Skill Has Translated Immediately for the San Antonio Spurs | Film School
Tyler Metcalf, No Ceilings
SAS: Spurs overwhelm OKC again
Michael C. Wright, ESPN
SAS: Spurs’ Notes
Tom Orsborn, Express-News
Underscoring how deep they are, the Spurs have had seven different leading scorers in their past seven victories.
Keldon Johnson led the way in Tuesday’s 130-110 thrashing of the Thunder with 25 points.
“We have that luxury that we can have multiple guys that can have a night,” he said. “We all understand the team aspect of it, that if somebody has it going, we’ve got to give them the ball — regardless of who it might be. Knowing that, it’s huge to have that luxury and having an understanding of it as well. Everybody gets joy from everybody’s success. Winning is the most important thing for us.”
SAS: The Spurs are deeper than people think
Mateo Mayorga, Pounding The Rock
LEAGUEWIDE
NBA Christmas catchup: Contenders, best rookies, trade candidates, tank race, and more
Ricky O’Donnell, SBNation
Top 10 most impactful rookies: Cooper Flagg and other first-year players stepping up to the challenge
Dan Bruno, CBS Sports
THE DRAFT
Keaton Wagler Scouting Report
Ersin Demir, NBA Draft Newsletter
From a relatively unknown recruit to a consensus first-rounder. Wagler is what today’s NBA guards need. Role versatility, skill, physical top tools
2026 NBA Mock Draft
Jonathan Wasserman, Bleacher Report
2026 NBA Mock Draft: First-Round Projections Entering Conference Play
Derek Parker, Sports Illustrated
PRO HOOPS HISTORY
Larry Kenon
Isi Baly, pk’s ABA Kingdom