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Duke freshman wing Kon Knueppel has declared for the 2025 NBA Draft. He’s been in the top 10 on Sam Vecenie’s draft board forever. Let me help you out with the pronunciation now. It’s Kon, like Con from the Nic Cage movie “Con Air.” Then, “Knueppel” is CUH (like Paul Walker says “cuz” in 2 Fast 2 Furious) and then nipple, like the body part protrusion. None of this is a joke. That’s how you do it. You’re welcome.
Welcome to the Playoffs!
The 2025 NBA Playoff Matchup Pressure Meter
We know six of the eight first-round series in the 2025 NBA Playoffs, as the two No. 1 seeds await their matchups being decided Friday night in the conclusion of the Play-In Tournament. Who has the most pressure? Let’s bust out the matchup pressure meter and provide bulletin board material, shall we? If you’re a regular Bouncer, you know these meters are a scale of 1-5 (5 being the most pressure).
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(2) Rockets v. (7) Warriors
The Rockets’ expectations have changed during the season, but the acquisition of Jimmy Butler has raised everything for the Warriors. They now have title expectations again. Houston’s youth still gives an out. Golden State has way more pressure.
Rockets Pressure: 🚀🚀 | Warriors Pressure: 🧑🍳🧑🍳🧑🍳🧑🍳
(3) Lakers v. (6) Timberwolves
You always have a certain amount of pressure on you when LeBron James is on the team. Now with Luka Dončić and time ticking with the 40-year-old LeBron, they need to get things done now. For the Wolves, there is a certain amount of pressure to prove last postseason wasn’t a fluke, even with new components.
Lakers Pressure: 🎬🎬🎬🎬 | Wolves Pressure: 🐺🐺🐺
(4) Nuggets v. (5) Clippers
Denver threw itself into big-time chaos by firing coach Michael Malone three games before the end of the season. That puts a certain spotlight on the Nuggets. And as good as the Clippers have been, there is no longer any pressure on them to perform, regardless of seeding.
Nuggets Pressure: ⛰️⛰️⛰️ | Clippers Pressure: 🚢
(2) Celtics v. (7) Magic
The Celtics don’t have a real threat here, even though Orlando will be a physically tough opponent. And the Magic have zero pressure because nobody expects them to win.
Celtics Pressure: 🏆🏆 | Magic Pressure: 🎩
(3) Knicks v. (6) Pistons
The Pistons are playing with house money, so it doesn’t even matter if they get swept. The Knicks cannot afford to even let this become a tough series, let alone think about losing it.
Knicks Pressure: 🗽🗽🗽🗽 | Pistons Pressure: 🚘
(4) Pacers V. (5) Bucks
This probably drops down to one for the Bucks if we get confirmation that Damian Lillard will miss the entire series. For the Pacers, there are still people who probably believe last year’s run to the conference finals was a fluke.
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Pacers Pressure: 🏁🏁🏁 | Bucks Pressure: 🦌🦌🦌
The Last 24
Gambling scandal reaching college ranks
💰 Betting scandal. Remember the Jontay Porter betting scandal? It runs deep into college hoops too.
🏀 Helping hand. Playing with Nikola Jokić just makes things easier. Here’s how Big Honey helps.
⚜️ Joe D in New Orleans. Former Pistons executive Joe Dumars has left the NBA’s league office. He’s now running the Pelicans’ basketball ops.
🏀 Come out to play? The Warriors finally solved their Play-In problem. Marcus Thompson wrote that this time it feels different.
🎧 Tuning in. Today’s NBA Daily discusses this week’s NBA Play-In action and Tyler Herro’s push for Most Improved Player.
🐻 Not again. The Grizzlies are enduring another injury with Ja Morant’s sprained ankle. What does it mean for Friday?
The Annual Bouncies
Most disappointing, best dunk and more
The 2024-25 regular season is done-zo! And you know what that means! The most prestigious awards in the basketball world – outside of the ones that the NBA and the NBPA and the Coaches Association and like a bunch of other organizations – are here to be given out. It’s The Bouncies! Unfortunately, there was a manufacturing problem, so the hardware is a little behind, but we’ll have it soon for the winners. Let’s give out the awards because we have the envelopes!
Best Rookie: Stephon Castle, Spurs
The kid in Philadelphia was technically the best rookie we saw, but he played in only 23 games. Castle had a great finish to the season and will probably win Rookie of the Year and end up the best player of the class. | Runner-up: Jared McCain, 76ers
Most Disappointing Rookie: Reed Sheppard, Rockets
He didn’t get a ton of chances on this Rockets team because they were good, but the can’t-miss shooter third overall pick shot 35 percent from the field and 33 percent from three when he did play. | Runner-up: Cody Williams, Jazz
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Most Frustrating Team: Mavericks
How in the f— do you trade Dončić when he’s 25 years old? How do you make this loyal fan base turn on you completely in one Saturday night? How do you ruin years of goodwill you built up by ruining an NBA Finals team you improved? | Runner-up: New Orleans Pelicans
Best Surprise Team: Pistons
The Pistons added Tobias Harris and Malik Beasley on the roster. Then, they added J.B. Bickerstaff as the coach. Then, this team more than tripled its wins from last year. They were better by plus-30 wins! All from having an actual gameplan. Now they’re the No. 6 seed. | Runner-up: Cleveland Cavaliers
Best Dish: Nikola Jokić to Aaron Gordon
The framing of this angle of the pass is just perfect because Brook Lopez disappears from a play where he has no clue what’s happening behind him. This is just so damn fun. | Runner-up: My man stabbing at this spaghetti behind the Grizzlies bench.
The story of the greatest players in NBA history. In 100 riveting profiles, top basketball writers justify their selections and uncover the history of the NBA in the process.
The story of the greatest players in NBA history.
Best Acquisition: Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks
Especially during the month Jalen Brunson missed, Towns was a big time stabilizer for the Knicks. He wasn’t as bad defensively as people said, but he also still needs a lot of work. His scoring has been a real savior. | Runner-up: Isaiah Hartenstein, Thunder
Worst Acquisition: Paul George, 76ers
Even when the injuries weren’t cutting his time on the court short, he just wasn’t very good. It’s bizarre because he was incredible last season for the Clippers. That’s not the player Philly ended up signing. | Runner-up: Mike Budenholzer, Suns
Dunk of the Year: Shaedon Sharpe on Justin Champagnie
I am begging the Portland Trail Blazers and the NBA and his agent and family to force Sharpe to participate in the 2026 dunk contest. We need it. This man is ridiculous. | Runner-up: Jalen Green on Cade Cunningham (let’s GIF it anyway)
Bucket-getter of the Year: Norman Powell, Clippers
How did we measure this? We looked at players averaging at least 15 points per game while having an assist rate under 15 percent. Then, we got rid of the big men in this category. Powell keeps this moniker from the middle of the season with a 21.8 scoring average and 10.2 percent assist rate. Get those shots up! | Runner-up: Malik Beasley, Pistons
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Tallest Player of the Year: Victor Wembanyama, Spurs
Despite allegedly losing an inch in listed height from his rookie season, I still fully believe Wemby is 7-foot-5, contrary to reports of his height before he was in the NBA. Players can be weird about how their height is listed. For example, Kevin Durant doesn’t like being listed at 7-feet tall. Congrats to Wemby on being the tallest. | Runner-up: Zach Edey, Grizzlies (7-foot-4)
The funniest moments to me: Paul George shutting down his podcast.
PG did this in late February to focus on getting healthier, bringing his team together and competing for a championship, as the 76ers were having a nightmare season. He played four more games after the latest episode came out before the team shut him down for injuries and to tank. | Runner-up: Bradley Beal sitting out the final game of the season due to rest (the Suns finished 36-46 and missed the Play-in).
Farewell to Thee
Bulls, Kings lose seasons in Play-In Tournament
Last night, the Heat and Mavericks took care of business to remain alive in the hunt for the No. 8 seed in their respective conferences. For the third straight season, the Heat ended the Bulls’ season in the Play-In Tournament. In the previous two seasons, it happened in the final game for the No. 8 seed. This time, a 109-90 victory fueled by Tyler Herro’s 38 points and Bam Adebayo’s defense took care of it a round earlier.
Then, in the second game of the night, the Mavericks shut down the Kings 120-106 on the road, which has to be easy when your own homecourt feels like a much more hostile environment because of your lead executive. Klay Thompson and Anthony Davis led the way, and the Mavs used a 44-19 second quarter to take control of the game and never really look back. We’ll preview their chances at the No. 8 seed tomorrow. For now, let’s say goodbye to the Bulls and Kings, and take a look at what awaits them in the offseason.
Chicago Bulls (39-43, ninth in the East)
- Draft pick situation: Currently tied for 12th with Dallas, pre-lottery. Chicago owns their own pick. Tiebreaker needs to happen.
- Upcoming free agents: Tre Jones, Josh Giddey (restricted), Jevon Carter (player option), Talen Horton-Tucker
- Main guys: Coby White, Josh Giddey, Nikola Vučević, Matas Buzelis
- Any cap room? Unlikely. Giddey’s restricted free agency should eliminate that.
- Do they have to worry about any tax aprons? No, they should be way under.
- What do they need this summer? A main guy, a big for the future, another big-time wing.
Sacramento Kings (40-42, ninth in the West)
- Draft pick situation: Currently 13th, so it would convey to Atlanta (top-12 protected) pre-lottery.
- Upcoming free agents: Trey Lyles, Jake LaRavia, Doug McDermott, Jae Crowder, Markelle Fultz (restricted)
- Main guys: Domantas Sabonis, DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, Keegan Murray.
- Any cap room? Absolutely not.
- Do they have to worry about any tax aprons? They should be fine. Even if they re-sign their guys or go get someone, they should have some room.
- What do they need this summer? Interior and wing defenders. A lot of them. And a lead playmaker.
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(Top photo: Isaiah J. Downing / USA Today Network via Imagn Images )
