NBA Basketball 24 Hours

Last updated: May 25, 2026, 11:59 AM ET

Conference Finals Update The NBA conference finals continued with compelling storylines as the Thunder struggled offensively in Game, producing their worst offensive performance in years during a 92-85 loss to the Spurs that evened the Western Conference finals at 2-2. The Thunder were also forced to rule out Mitchell for Game 4 due to a right calf strain, adding to their challenges. In the Eastern Conference, the Cavaliers gained analytical advantages according to coach Kenny Atkinson, who noted his team's data-driven approach has helped secure two of the first three games against the Knicks. The remaining conference finals are setting up potential matchups for the NBA Finals, with analysts breaking down all four possible series including intriguing pairings like Spurs-Knicks and Thunder-Cavaliers.

Player Recognition and Awards Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic earned unanimous first-team All-NBA selections, while Victor Wembanyama narrowly missed joining them by just one vote. The Spurs star dominated defensively as the only unanimous selection for the NBA's All-Defensive First Team, joined by Chet Holmgren, Ausar Thompson, Rudy Gobert and Derrick White. Wembanyama's defensive prowess is so exceptional that analysts predict he will be the Defensive Player of the Year for the next decade, as his ability to prevent players from shooting before they even attempt shots makes him uniquely valuable. Meanwhile, Heat forward Bam Adebayo received the NBA's Social Justice Champion award, recognizing his off-court impact and community leadership.

Offseason Moves and Draft The Lakers made their first significant offseason move by hiring Rohan Ramadas as an assistant GM under president and GM Rob Pelinka, signaling their early preparation for the upcoming season. In draft news, Kentucky freshman center Malachi Moreno decided to return to school, passing on his projected second-round selection in next month's NBA draft to develop another year at college. ESPN's NBA insiders proposed six trades that could shake up the league, with particular focus on potential landing spots for Ja Morant and other stars as teams look to reshape their rosters ahead of the 2026-27 season. Jeremy Woo also released his updated mock draft, predicting all 60 picks after an exciting week at the 2026 NBA combine that provided new insights into prospects' development.

International Basketball and Celebrity Culture In international basketball news, Olympiakos claimed the EuroLeague championship with a 92-85 victory over Real Madrid in Athens, with Giannis Antetokounmpo watching from the crowd as the Greek team secured a significant European title. The NBA playoffs have also attracted significant celebrity attention, with high-profile stars attending games including Taylor Swift, adding to the league's cultural appeal during the conference finals.

Player Development The Spurs' development of Victor Wembanyama has been remarkable, with monks from a Shaolin monastery in central China having played a crucial role in transforming the young star into "the most unstoppable force in basketball," according to sources familiar with his training regimen. This unique development approach has clearly contributed to his rapid rise to superstardom in the NBA.