Stephon Castle wins 2024-25 NBA Rookie of the Year award

San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle is the recipient of the Wilt Chamberlain Trophy as the 2024-25 NBA Rookie of the Year.

Castle is the fourth player to win the NBA Rookie of the Year Award with the Spurs, joining David Robinson (1989-90), Tim Duncan (1997-98) and last season’s recipient, Victor Wembanyama (2023-24). The Spurs are the first team to have back-to-back winners of this annual honor since the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2014-15 (Andrew Wiggins) and 2015-16 (Karl-Anthony Towns).

In the 2024-25 regular season, Castle averaged 14.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 0.91 steals in 26.7 minutes in 81 games. He led all rookies in points per game, ranked fourth in assists per game and finished sixth in steals per game. Castle also had the most total points (1,190), steals (74) and free throws made (249) among first-year NBA players.

Castle was named the Kia NBA Western Conference Rookie of the Month twice, for games played in January and March. In 30 games after the All-Star break, he averaged 17.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.0 assists in 28.6 minutes.

Bucks guard Damian Lillard injury update: torn Achilles tendon

Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard underwent an MRI today that revealed a torn left Achilles tendon. Lillard suffered the injury during the first period of last night’s game vs. Indiana.

Lillard will miss the remainder of the 2025 Playoffs and undergo surgery to repair the injury.

Per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, “Lillard was injured in the first quarter of the game when he pushed off his left leg to collect an offensive rebound. His leg immediately buckled and he fell to the floor and reached for his lower leg. He sat until play was stopped by a foul, and Lillard needed assistance from Milwaukee coaches and players to exit the court.”

Stephen Curry wins 2024-25 Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year award

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry has been named the 2024-25 Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year.

Presented annually since the 2012-13 season, the Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award recognizes the player deemed the best teammate based on selfless play, on- and off-court leadership as a mentor and role model to other NBA players, and commitment and dedication to team.

A panel of league executives selected 12 finalists (six from each conference) for the Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award. Current NBA players selected the winner from the list of finalists.

Curry has won the Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award for the first time. He previously won the NBA Sportsmanship Award (2010-11), which honors a player who best represents the ideals of sportsmanship on the court.

A 16-year NBA veteran, Curry is a two-time Kia NBA Most Valuable Player, an 11-time NBA All-Star and the league’s career leader in three-pointers made. He has won four NBA championships, all with Golden State, the only franchise for which he has played.

The Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award is named for Jack Twyman and Maurice Stokes, whose storied friendship transcended their Hall of Fame accomplishments.

Jimmer Fredette named Managing Director of USA Basketball 3×3 Men’s National Team

Jimmer Fredette, the former No. 1 ranked 3×3 player in the world, will be the first managing director of the USA 3×3 Men’s National Team, USA Basketball announced today.

“When I got the call from USA Basketball about playing 3×3, I really didn’t know what to expect,” Fredette said. “I found out quickly that I loved the competition, energy and style of the sport. 3×3 fits my game and my personality. I made friends throughout my journey who will forever be a part of my life. I also saw an opportunity to be able to grow the sport within the USA.

“When USA Basketball approached me about this role, I jumped at it. I’m determined to help build a sustainable program for years to come and, ultimately, the best 3×3 program in the world. I’m so grateful for the USA Basketball Board of Directors for trusting me with this responsibility and I’m ready for the challenge.”

In his role, Fredette will be responsible for identifying the USA 3×3 Men’s National Team coaching staff and players for major international competitions, including the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028, FIBA 3×3 World Cup, FIBA 3×3 Champions Cup, FIBA 3×3 AmeriCup, Pan American Games and the FIBA 3×3 pro circuit, as well as the program’s training camp participants over the next three years.

“Jimmer brought his legendary shooting style to 3×3 in 2022 and quickly became one of the most beloved athletes on the halfcourt,” USA Basketball CEO Jim Tooley said. “His knowledge of and skill for the game, ability to lead and reputation as one of the game’s best shooters in history puts him in a prime position to become the first person in this role and help shape USA Basketball’s 3×3 men’s national team program on the road to Los Angeles.”

The 2023 USA Basketball 3×3 Male Athlete of the Year, Fredette owns gold medals from the 2023 Pan American Games and 2022 FIBA 3×3 Men’s AmeriCup as well as a silver medal at the 2023 FIBA 3×3 Men’s World Cup. Fredette was part of USA Basketball’s first 3×3 men’s Olympic Team, which made its debut at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

Draymond Green wins 2024-25 NBA Hustle award

Golden State Warriors forward-center Draymond Green has been named the winner of the 2024-25 NBA Hustle Award.

Green, a four-time NBA All-Star and eight-time Kia NBA All-Defensive Team selection, has won the NBA Hustle Award for the first time. This season, the 13-year NBA veteran was also a finalist for the Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award, which he won in 2016-17.

Presented annually since the 2016-17 season, the NBA Hustle Award honors a player who makes the effort plays that do not often appear in the traditional box score but help determine team success. Hustle statistics include deflections, loose balls recovered, charges drawn, screen assists, contested shots and box-outs.

Payton Pritchard wins 2024-25 NBA Sixth Man of Year award

Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard is the recipient of the John Havlicek Trophy as the 2024-25 NBA Sixth Man of the Year for his contributions in a reserve role.

Pritchard has been named the Kia NBA Sixth Man of the Year for the first time. He is the fourth player to earn the honor with the Celtics, joining Kevin McHale (1983-84 and 1984-85), Bill Walton (1985-86) and Malcolm Brogdon (2022-23).

In his fifth season, the 6-1 Pritchard averaged career highs of 14.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists in 28.4 minutes in 80 games (three starts). He shot a career-high 47.2% from the field, including 40.7% from three-point range. His 1,079 points off the bench were the most in the NBA.

Pritchard ranked fifth among all NBA players in three-pointers made with a career-high 255, the second most in a season in Celtics franchise history. He set an NBA single-season record for three-pointers made off the bench with 246 (his other nine threes made came as a starter).

Pritchard helped the Celtics (61-21) finish with the third-best record in the NBA and secure the No. 2 playoff seed in the Eastern Conference.

Evan Mobley wins 2024-25 NBA Defensive Player of Year award

Cleveland Cavaliers forward-center Evan Mobley is the recipient of the Hakeem Olajuwon Trophy as the 2024-25 NBA Defensive Player of the Year.

A four-year NBA veteran, Mobley has been named the Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year for the first time. The 7-footer is the first player to earn the honor with the Cavaliers.

Mobley is the fifth 23-year-old to be selected as the Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year, joining Alvin Robertson (1985-86), Dwight Howard (2008-09), Kawhi Leonard (2014-15) and Jaren Jackson Jr. (2022-23). No player younger than 23 has ever won the award, which has been presented annually since the 1982-83 season.

In the 2024-25 regular season, Mobley ranked sixth in the NBA in blocked shots per game (1.59) and 13th in defensive rebounds per game (7.0). He contested 10.4 shots per game, the third most among players who played in at least 70% of their team’s games (58 of 82).

Opponents shot 44.5% from the field when Mobley was the closest defender, 3.2% lower than their expected percentage on those shots (47.7%). That difference was the fourth largest among the 30 players who defended at least 1,000 shots for the season.

Behind Mobley, the Cavaliers ranked eighth in the NBA in defensive rating (111.8) and third in opponents’ field goal percentage (45.4). With him on the court, Cleveland had a defensive rating of 108.6 – which would be No. 2 in the league.

Mobley won the Kia NBA Eastern Conference Defensive Player of the Month Award twice, for December and February. He was also named an NBA All-Star for the first time.

Overall, Mobley averaged 18.5 points, 9.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 30.5 minutes in 71 games. He helped the Cavaliers (64-18) finish with the second-best record in franchise history and earn the No. 1 playoff seed in the Eastern Conference.

Jalen Brunson wins 2024-25 NBA Clutch Player of Year award

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson is the recipient of the Jerry West Trophy as winner of the 2024-25 NBA Clutch Player of the Year award.

The award, which was first presented in the 2022-23 season, honors the NBA player who best comes through for his teammates late in close games. A global media panel of 100 voters selected the winner based on nominations from NBA head coaches.

In the 2024-25 regular season, Brunson averaged an NBA-high 5.6 points in clutch situations, which are defined as possessions in the final five minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime when the score is within five points. In those instances, he also led the league in field goals made (52) and ranked second in total points (156) and third in total assists (28).

Brunson shot 51.5% from the field and 84.0% from the free throw line in clutch time. In the 28 clutch games in which he played, the Knicks had a record of 17-11.

Overall, Brunson averaged 26.0 points and 7.3 assists in 35.4 minutes in 65 games this season. He ranked eighth in the NBA in both points and assists per game. Brunson was selected as an NBA All-Star for the second season in a row.

Knicks and Sixers to play two October 2025 preseason games in Abu Dhabi

The NBA and the Department of Culture and Tourism of Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) today announced that The NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2025 will feature the New York Knicks and the Philadelphia 76ers playing preseason games on Thursday, Oct. 2 and Saturday, Oct. 4 at Etihad Arena on Yas Island.

The Knicks currently feature two-time NBA All-Star Jalen Brunson, five-time NBA All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns and 2022 NBA All-Defensive First Team member Mikal Bridges. Bridges and Brunson previously played in Abu Dhabi as members of the USA Basketball (USAB) Men’s National Team prior to the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup. Towns participated in The NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2023 as a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The 76ers currently feature 2023 NBA Most Valuable Player and seven-time NBA All-Star Joel Embiid, nine-time NBA All-Star Paul George and 2024 NBA All-Star Tyrese Maxey. Embiid previously played in Abu Dhabi as a member of the USAB Men’s National Team prior to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

The NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2025 will air live in the UAE, across the Middle East and around the world, reaching fans in more than 200 countries and territories on television, digital media and social media.

Kings hire Scott Perry as General Manager

The Sacramento Kings announced today that Scott Perry has been named General Manager. Perry will oversee basketball operations and report to the owner and chairman.

“Scott brings a wealth of experience, a sharp basketball mind, and a strong track record of building talented rosters,” said Kings Owner and Chairman Vivek Ranadivé. “He shares our commitment to developing and sustaining a winning culture, and I am excited to welcome him back to Sacramento.”

“I appreciate the opportunity to rejoin the Kings organization and help build a successful team that competes at a high level,” said Perry. “I’m eager to get to work with the players and staff to continue moving the organization forward.”