NBA Basketball 24 Hours

Last updated: May 24, 2026, 11:49 PM ET

Awards & Honors

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic achieved unanimous first-team All-NBA selections, while Victor Wembanyama fell one vote shy of joining the club. The Spurs rookie’s defensive dominance was further recognized as he claimed the only unanimous All-Defensive First Team nod, with Chet Holmgren and Ausar Thompson also earning top honors. Meanwhile, Bam Adebayo earned the league’s Social Justice Champion award for his community advocacy work in Miami.

Draft Developments

Kentucky freshman center Malachi Moreno reversed his draft decision, withdrawing from the NBA draft to return to Lexington for his sophomore season. The move reshapes the projected 2025 class, which currently lacks a clear top-tier center prospectimplied context. ESPN’s Jeremy Woo updated his 2026 mock draft following the combine, with Cooper Flagg still projected as the No. 1 overall pick amid a deep talent pool.

Playoff Pulse

Oklahoma City’s Western Conference finals run now faces a setback after guard Ajay Mitchell was ruled out for Game 4 with a right calf strain. The series remains tight as the Thunder aim to close out the Mavericks. Off the court, celebrity attendance surged in the playoffs, with Taylor Swift and other A-listers making headlines courtside, underscoring the NBA’s growing cultural footprint.

International Buzz

Olympiakos captured the EuroLeague title in a raucous Athens final, defeating Real Madrid 92-85 as Giannis Antetokounmpo watched from the stands. In a feature on his development, a visit to a Shaolin monastery helped shape Victor Wembanyama’s unique blend of size, agility, and mental discipline, contributing to his emergence as the league’s most unstoppable force.

Future Prospects

The evolving defensive landscape is personified by Wembanyama, who redefined rim protection by deterring shots before they occur—a skill that earned him Defensive Player of the Year honors and projects him as a decade-long MVP candidate. As the conference finals intensify, analysts are breaking down all four potential Finals matchups, from a Spurs-Knicks throwback to a Thunder-Cavaliers clash of young superstars.