Translation: The NBA Draft is always a grand event that captures the attention of many, with young rookies often exploding onto the scene, quickly rising to become promising stars. For instance, players like Wenyen Gabriel and Josh Huestis are breaking out and becoming core members of teams like the Spurs and Thunder. Sometimes, when the overall talent of the rookies isn't particularly outstanding, that year is referred to as a "draft down year." The 2021 NBA Draft was considered a down year, but these young players have been impressive, each breaking through their own talent ceilings. Averaging 28+4+4, the No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 draft picks are all setting new highs, who says this year's draft quality isn't good? Experts and journalists from ESPN in the United States have summarized the first half of the NBA season, selecting the most surprising players of the season. Knicks center Towns ranked first, Pistons Cunningham second, and Spurs Wenyen Gabriel third. Cunningham has always been a relatively low-profile No. 1 pick. He plays for the rebuilding and tanking Pistons, so he hasn't received much attention. However, Cunningham has made tremendous progress this season, not only improving his personal statistics comprehensively but also significantly enhancing his leadership abilities, impressing everyone. Cunningham is the No. 1 pick of the 2021 draft. This season, he averages 24.3 points + 6.5 rebounds + 9.4 assists (third in the league) + 0.9 steals, with a shooting percentage of 45%, a three-point percentage of 36.8%, and a free-throw percentage of 80.5%. Not only can Cunningham score steadily,…

NBA All-Star Game Voting Results Announced: Stars Shine, Fans Celebrate Hey, basketball fans! Did you know that there's a super dazzling event in the world of basketball called the NBA All-Star Game? It's not just any game; it's like a grand party in the basketball world, gathering all the top players from the league, with eyes from fans around the globe fixed on it. On January 17th, Beijing time, the much-anticipated third phase of the All-Star Game fan voting results were released, instantly injecting a shot of adrenaline into the fans, causing their enthusiasm to skyrocket. Let's start with the vote king, Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks, who is incredibly impressive. He seems to be on a whole other level, shining like a super bright star in the voting, almost blinding others with his brilliance. Can you imagine? He is the only player to receive over 3 million votes, with an astonishing total of 3,489,956 votes. On the court, he's like an unstoppable basketball machine. His physique is so robust that it feels like a wall, combined with his superb athletic ability, making him a dominant force in both offense and defense. When he breaks through for a layup, it's like a gust of wind, quickly rushing to the basket and scoring. During inside play, opponents are pushed around by him. His games are filled with magic, making Bucks' matches particularly exciting, driving fans wild with support. Looking at the West, Nikola Jokic from the Denver Nuggets is also outstanding. With 2,924,436 votes, he stands out among the Western…

On January 21st, Beijing time, the NBA regular season welcomed several key battles. Among them, the momentum of Jalen Green's Rockets faced off against the Pistons led by the same-year number one pick Cade Cunningham, the Suns with their impressive debut of new recruits took on the Eastern Conference leaders, the Cavaliers, and the grudge match between the Warriors and the Celtics. The specific highlights of the games are as follows: The Rockets lost at home to the Pistons 96:107. So far this season, the Rockets have achieved a record of 28 wins and 13 losses, ranking second in the West, while the Pistons have 21 wins and 21 losses, ranking ninth in the East. Playing at home, the Rockets were completely out of form, with both inside and outside defenses collapsing. Jalen Duren dominated the paint, and the momentum of Jalen Green was disrupted by consecutive turnovers, allowing the Pistons to go on a 14:0 run, trailing 29:40 by 11 points at the end of the first quarter. In the second quarter, taking advantage of the Pistons' poor form, Aminu Thompson and Whitmore continuously attacked, leveling the score before halftime. After the break, Cade Cunningham suddenly exploded, scoring 19 points in a single quarter with unstoppable drives and outside shots, once again widening the gap. In the final quarter, both teams had extremely low offensive efficiency, with Jalen Green scoring 9 points alone, which was not enough to save the game. Ultimately, the Rockets lost at home to the Pistons 96:107. The absence of Adams led to the Rockets…

NBA regular season, tomorrow's January 21st point spread win/loss analysis and prediction for the second part: Suns vs Cavaliers (-7.5) Pre-game analysis: The Suns defeated the Pistons in their last game to secure a two-game winning streak. Durant struggled in the first half but found his form in the second half, finishing with 36 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists on 13-of-27 shooting. Booker had a good shooting night, scoring 35 points with 5 rebounds and 3 assists on 11-of-22 shooting. Newcomer Richards was impressive, contributing 21 points and 11 rebounds on 7-of-8 shooting for a double-double. However, the Suns' defense is not strong, and they may struggle against the Cavaliers, who have an excellent offensive capability. Mitchell and Garland both performed well as the Cavaliers won without Mobley. Mitchell scored 36 points with 8 rebounds and 7 assists on 12-of-27 shooting, while Garland has been playing more reasonably this season, scoring 29 points with 5 rebounds and 6 assists on 8-of-19 shooting. The Cavaliers have a deep roster with players who can shoot well and score effectively, ranking second in the league in average points per game. Point spread win/loss prediction: The Cavaliers are favored by 7.5 points at home, and I predict that the Cavaliers will win, covering the spread at home. Celtics vs Warriors (+6.5) Pre-game analysis: The Celtics have been in poor form recently, with a record of 2 wins and 3 losses in their last five games. They lost in overtime to the Hawks in their last game, making continuous mistakes. The "Two Towers" underperformed,…

The highly anticipated Los Angeles derby ended with the Lakers suffering a crushing defeat against the Clippers, with a final score of 102-116. After the loss, the atmosphere within the Lakers team was quite poor, and there was significant controversy surrounding LeBron James. It became evident in this game that James is showing signs of aging. During the match, James missed two layups on open baskets. The first instance occurred after he broke through and created space from his opponent. James attempted an unsuccessful layup that hit the rim and bounced out. Frustrated by the miss, James could only shrug in disbelief. The second miss happened when he had an opportunity for a dunk after cutting to the baseline but failed to convert the shot. These two missed layups were disappointing for fans who once witnessed the high-flying prowess of James. James appeared helpless in these situations and could only accept the reality of his age. His teammates, witnessing this, dared not say much and could only shake their heads in confusion. In the game, James shot 9 for 20, scoring 25 points, 11 assists, and 5 rebounds. However, these statistics are clearly not enough for him to be considered the leading player on a championship-contending team. Anthony Davis also had a lackluster performance, scoring only 16 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. The entire Lakers team is currently in a slump, making it extremely challenging for them to continue their pursuit of the championship. James is feeling helpless, and fans believe that returning to the Cavaliers at this point might…

On January 19, 2025, Beijing time, the 22-win and 19-loss Timberwolves hosted the 34-win and 6-loss Cavaliers. The Cavaliers suffered a crushing defeat to the Thunder in their last game and were eager to make a strong comeback today. However, they were without Mobley and Okoro, two key players, significantly reducing their combat effectiveness. The Timberwolves were playing back-to-back games, having defeated the Knicks the day before, so they were not as physically fit as the Cavaliers. Additionally, DiVincenzo was absent, with both teams experiencing a loss in strength. Who would win this battle? The Timberwolves' starting lineup was Conley, Edwards, McDaniels, Randle, and Gobert, while the Cavaliers' starting lineup was Garland, Mitchell, LeVert, Wade, and Allen. In the first quarter, Mitchell scored a layup, followed by Edwards and Conley hitting two consecutive three-pointers, giving the Timberwolves a 6-2 lead. Mitchell and Allen also scored, to which McDaniels and Gobert responded, making it 10-6 for the Timberwolves. Garland made a floater, but Edwards and Conley added five points, extending the Timberwolves' lead to seven points, forcing a timeout. After the pause, Wade and Mitchell scored, while Randle and Edwards responded, keeping the gap at seven points. Garland hit a three-pointer and Allen made a layup, but Reid hit two three-pointers and Edwards added another three, putting the Timberwolves up by 11 points. Jerome, Niang, and Mitchell then went on an 8-0 run to reduce the deficit to three points. Gobert made one of two free throws, but Wade hit a three-pointer, narrowing the gap to one point. Reid made a…

LeBron James, a legendary figure in the NBA, has confidently declared himself the greatest player in basketball history on numerous public occasions. In an in-depth interview, James elaborated on why he dares to claim the title of NBA's GOAT with such confidence. He pointed out that his career spans multiple eras of basketball, from the twilight of the Lakers dynasty to the iron-blooded reign of the Spurs, and now the glory of the Warriors. Not only has he witnessed the rise and fall of these dynasties, but he has also played a key role in them. He proudly mentioned that he not only defeated the powerful Spurs dynasty and the Warriors dynasty but also successfully brought the championship trophy into his possession, which undoubtedly serves as the best proof of his basketball career. James particularly highlighted the 2016 NBA Finals, one of the most glorious moments of his career. Facing a desperate situation at 1:3, he led the Cavaliers to an astonishing comeback, winning three consecutive games and ultimately capturing the championship trophy. He questioned whether anyone else in the long history of the NBA could achieve such a feat. Even basketball god Michael Jordan or Lakers legend Kobe Bryant had never accomplished something like this. Therefore, James firmly believes that he is the greatest star, a view that he holds steadfastly. Moreover, James emphasized his versatility on the court. He proudly stated that he can perform perfectly from position 1 to position 5, making him one of the greatest players in basketball history. Since 2010, James' career has reached…

The NBA regular season schedule for this season is more than halfway through, with fierce competition in both the Eastern and Western Conferences. There is a common point between the two divisions: the top teams, the Thunder and Cavaliers, have a significant lead over the rest of their respective conferences (more than six wins). The second-place teams, the Rockets and Celtics, also have relatively stable positions. However, from fourth place onwards, there is a chaotic battle among multiple teams. In the West, there are nine teams within a 4.5-game difference between the fourth-place Nuggets and the twelfth-place Spurs. In the East, there are six teams within a 2-game difference between the fourth-place Bucks and the ninth-place Pistons. One thing is certain: as legendary superstars like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Stephen Curry age, many mid-career and rising stars are gradually taking on greater roles. However, to be honest, before winning a championship, many teams are considered pseudo-strong, lacking the experience of the brutal playoff battles. This season's biggest contender in the West is undoubtedly the Thunder. Last season, they were defeated by the Mavericks' twin towers and the Doncic-East combo, but this season, with the addition of Hartenstein and Caruso, the team's lower limit has been significantly improved, and they rarely face significant pressure in the regular season. On the Eastern side, there are three championship contenders: the Cavaliers, Celtics, and Knicks. Especially the Cavaliers, who are widely favored by American media to succeed in the post-LeBron era. With the Celtics' aging roster and severe salary pressure, and the Knicks'…

LeBron James has been playing in the NBA for nearly 21 seasons since the 03 season. During these seasons, he has created personal statistics that are beyond the reach of future generations, and it can be said that they cannot be surpassed. Let's take a look at the five records set by James that may never be broken and are difficult for future generations to touch. Fifth: Historical Scoring King When James' total score exceeded 40,000 points, it had already proven that this statistic would make future generations look up in awe. Currently, James has scored a total of 41,301 points in his career so far. Moreover, the current NBA has strict rules that do not allow high school graduates to participate in the draft, while James entered the NBA at the age of 18 right after high school graduation. This data is probably something that future generations really can't break. If James can play until he is 45 years old without any accidents, he could easily achieve over 45,000 points. Fourth: 8,162 Playoff Points From the 03 season to now, I just checked and found that James currently has a total of 8,162 playoff points, ranking first in history. He has played a total of 287 playoff games. Jordan's total playoff points were 5,987, which is 2,175 points less than James. Seeing these statistics, I myself am amazed by James. Thinking about who among future generations could break this record, it's even more terrifying that James is still active in the league and can still average over 20 points…

NBA Western Conference Latest Rankings: Clippers Create NBA Miracle, Kings Aim for Top 6, Warriors Drop to 11 January 17, 2025, Beijing Time - Today, there were five NBA games involving the Clippers, Thunder, Rockets, Suns, Kings, and Trail Blazers, resulting in changes to the Western Conference standings.‌ The Thunder hosted the Cavaliers, lacking their two key frontcourt players, Chet and Haten, while the Cavaliers had a complete lineup. On paper, the Cavaliers seemed to have an advantage, but it was the Thunder who dominated the game. Their defense held the Cavaliers to low shooting percentages and forced multiple turnovers, leading to easy transition baskets. The Thunder led by 18 points after the first quarter, 26 at halftime, and the lead ballooned to 42 points in the third quarter, effectively ending the game as a contest. The Cavaliers' bench managed to reduce the deficit somewhat in the fourth quarter, but the Thunder still won by 20 points. Alexander scored 40 points with 17 of 26 shots, including 3 rebounds and 8 assists. Dort made 8 of 11 shots (6 of 9 from three-point range) for 22 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists. Jalen made 8 of 14 shots for 19 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals. For the Cavaliers, Garland made 7 of 10 shots for 20 points, 2 rebounds, and 9 assists, while Mitchell made only 3 of 15 shots for 8 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists, being completely shut down. Allen made all 6 of his shots for 13 points and 7 rebounds.‌ With this…