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Now that we know Tracy Morgan is fine, we can joke about a recent incident: During the Knicks-Heat game on St. Patrick’s Day, the match was delayed for over 10 minutes after he threw up courtside. It would have been a comedic way to restart “30 Rock.”
Is Luka Dončić Fully Back?
Insights on his transition with the Lakers
As you consider Luka Dončić’s time with the Lakers (42-25), remember that this is real; the Mavericks made this decision. It’s essential to note that Dončić hadn’t played for over a month before making his debut with Los Angeles due to a calf strain sustained on Christmas Day. Despite his new uniform, he’s not yet the dominating player we’re used to seeing.
In 15 games with the Lakers, the 26-year-old Dončić is putting up averages of 26.2 points, 8.8 rebounds, 8.1 assists, 1.9 steals, and 4.2 turnovers in 34.5 minutes. His shooting percentages, however, have dipped, making 40 percent of his shots overall, 33.6 percent from three, and 77.6 percent at the free-throw line. To compare, last season he finished third in MVP voting with:
- 33.9 points, 9.2 rebounds, 9.8 assists, 1.4 steals, 4.0 turnovers, with 48.7/38.2/78.6 splits.
While his statistics are solid, they don’t meet our expectations yet. Nevertheless, he is displaying increased comfort as he recovers from injury. Notably, there has been a discernible improvement in Dončić’s performance from his first seven games with the Lakers compared to the last eight:
- First seven: 21.0 points, 8.6 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 1.7 steals, 3.4 turnovers, with 37.3/24.1/76.5 splits in 31.0 minutes.
- Last eight: 30.8 points, 9.0 rebounds, 9.5 assists, 2.1 steals, 4.5 turnovers, with 42.0/39.8/78.3 splits in 37.7 minutes.
Though he’s not completely back yet, he’s starting to show significant improvement, particularly with LeBron James sidelined due to a groin injury. Lakers reporter Jovan Buha shared his observations regarding how much of Dončić’s improvement might be attributed to LeBron’s absence.
The Last 24
It’s always the right time for a mock draft
📈 Rising stock! Sam Vecenie explores which March Madness stars could enhance their draft stock soon. The No Dunks crew also shared their top 10 prospects.
⌚ Dame Time. Damian Lillard’s journey with Milwaukee (38-30) has yet to fulfill his championship aspirations. He’s still pursuing a ring.
🤔 Cleveland’s weakness? NBA Daily raises concerns about a defensive issue with the Cavaliers, which might cost them in the playoffs. Joe Vardon wonders if their recent defeats are merely a temporary setback.
🐂 Huge upside. Bulls rookie Matas Buzelis is beginning to gain attention. Lauri Markkanen approves.
🏀 New life. Deni Avdija joining the Blazers (30-39) has been among the best offseason acquisitions. He feels at home now.
📺 Don’t miss tonight’s matchup. Nuggets (44-25) at Lakers, 10 p.m. ET on ESPN or Fubo (try it free!). While LeBron won’t be playing, Dončić vs. Nikola Jokić is always a treat.
Tournament Time!
Chantel Jennings discusses JuJu Watkins and more
It’s tournament season! In the coming weeks, college basketball will showcase future stars in the NCAA Tournaments for both men and women. Over the next couple of days, we’ll focus on NBA draft prospects from the men’s tournament. Today, I spoke with Chantel Jennings about the frontrunners in the women’s tournament and the rising star, JuJu Watkins.
South Carolina and Dawn Staley seemed upset by not being the No. 1 overall seed. Are they the team to watch?
Jennings: It’s not just Staley and South Carolina that feel slighted; USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb expressed that she felt “disrespected” with a No. 1 seed (the Trojans earned the fourth top-line seed). Notably, Notre Dame, which was ranked No. 1 in the AP poll for most of the season, ended up a No. 3 seed after finishing poorly, while TCU, the Big 12 champions, found themselves behind two Big Ten teams on the seed line.
Thus, numerous teams may find some extra motivation from the committee’s decisions.
Is Watkins the biggest star in women’s basketball, and does USC have a shot at the championship?
Jennings: Watkins is indeed a standout star and has led USC since her arrival. Last season, the Trojans narrowly missed the Final Four, and this year’s journey will be challenging. USC’s region faces formidable opponents, including Iowa (the only team to defeat the Trojans this season), and UConn, which knocked them out in the Elite Eight last year, among others. It will be interesting to see if Watkins can maintain her stellar performance consistently throughout the tournament.
Is there a player or team that could explode and surprise everyone this tournament?
Jennings: While Paige Bueckers is UConn’s top star, freshman Sarah Strong might just be the secret weapon for the Huskies this postseason. She averages 16 points and nine rebounds, showcasing skills beyond her years. She’s a player to watch moving forward.
You can follow all of our coverage of the women’s tournament here as the First Four begins tonight.
‘I’m Back’
Thirty years ago today, Michael Jordan made his famous return
We all recall Michael Jordan’s iconic fax stating, “I’m back,” in 1995 as he returned to basketball after a brief career in baseball. Thirty years ago today, he played his first game since the 1993 NBA Finals, where he helped the Bulls secure three consecutive championships, a feat only previously achieved by the Celtics in the late 1950s.
Jordan attempted to play professional baseball and excelled in AA, a level he hadn’t played since high school. Remarkably, on this day in 1995, Jordan was back in a Bulls uniform, albeit wearing No. 45, a shocking change for many fans. But everyone turned to NBC that Sunday, ready to celebrate the return of the greatest player ever (sorry, LeBron).
According to NBA.com, an estimated 35 million viewers tuned in for that game, marking the highest-rated regular-season game in NBA history. Jordan was not at his best during that debut; he was rusty, and the uniform change was a point of debate. The Bulls lost to Indiana 103-96 in overtime, with MJ scoring 19 points on 7-of-28 shooting, along with six rebounds, six assists, and three steals. Regardless, the main highlight was that he was back.
Just nine days later, he scored 55 points at Madison Square Garden. We’ll revisit that next week.
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(Top photo: Kirby Lee / Imagn Images)
