🏀 What CAN'T these rookies do?

Good news: real NBA basketball is back in a week and a half! That gives you plenty of time to grow a foot taller, sneak into your favorite team’s practice facility, and show the coaching staff why you deserve that open roster spot. 🫡 

And what’s that? The Enjoy logo in the sky? That’s right, we need your help! The EB team is looking for an experienced podcast strategist/producer to join The Kenny Beecham Podcast. If you or someone you know has what it takes (minimum of 1-2 years of previous experience in a producer/strategist role on a podcast required), apply here!

Lastly, congratulations to Sam, the winner of our 2K24 giveaway! Be eligible for future giveaways by referring Enjoy Basketball to a friend using the link at the bottom of today’s newsletter.

Okay, now it’s basketball time. 😎 

Today’s Lineup

Rookies Fly, Rims Cry 😭: These rooks threw down some rim-rattling slams!

Around The W ⭐️: The Las Vegas Aces are one game away from winning the WNBA Finals…

I Pledge Allegiance To… 🇺🇸: Cooper Flagg’s high school mixtape is INSANE.

But first, some trivia:

Rookies Rising to the Occasion

Another couple days of preseason hoops made us that much more excited for the upcoming NBA season. In particular, we can’t get over this rookie class—they’re high-flying on offense and absolutely BRUTAL on defense.

Rookies Fly, Rims Cry

The young Rockets certainly know how to lift off into the atmosphere (or, you know, just above the 10ft rim). Fourth-overall pick Amen Thompson threw down an up-and-under jam, followed by 20th-pick Cam Whitmore throttling the basket with his own slam. Throw in Jalen Green’s ever-present high-flying antics, and we’re starting to feel really bad for the rims in Houston.

But those weren’t the only rookie slams of the night. In Charlotte, Brandon Miller somehow already had the dunk of the year. Only problem? It didn’t count 🫠. Your high school JV coach would LOVE the guy who took that charge!

Meanwhile in Orlando, sixth-overall pick Anthony Black saw an open lane and threw down his own ferocious jam. What does this rookie class have against these rims?!?

Rookies’ Cookies 🍪 

Bilal Coulibaly sure can defend the heck out of the ball, and we know Kyle Kuzma agrees. Coulibaly’s raw athleticism and understanding of the game have yielded seven steals and two blocks in his first two preseason games!

GG Jackson was the 45th pick in this year’s draft. Seth Lundy, the 46th pick. Surely neither would be dictating late-game high-stakes situations right off the bat, right? Right? Well, this is why we love the preseason.

With the Hawks up by one with five seconds left, Lundy swatted Jackson’s game-winning attempt away to seal Atlanta’s win. Defense wins championships… and preseason games. 😅

Around the W with Crina

Las Vegas Aces up 2-0 against the New York Liberty in WNBA Finals

The Aces have looked like the best basketball team in the WORLD against the Liberty, winning both of their games at home in dominant fashion. Jackie Young has been super explosive, scoring 26 and 24 in Games 1 and 2. A’ja Wilson has (of course) been unstoppable, and Chelsea Gray has been the point GAWD that she always is.

Meanwhile, New York has relied on Jonquel Jones to be their most important player throughout the playoffs, albeit to little success. Neither game has even been close—the Aces won Game 1 by 17 and Game 2 by 28.

Can 2023 MVP Breanna Stewart and the rest of the Liberty get it together and avoid elimination in Game 3 this Sunday? Or will the Aces be the first team to repeat as champs since the 2002 Los Angeles Sparks? Catch the game on ABC to find out!

Moolah Kicks dropping two new shoe models for female hoopers

Moolah Kicks, the only shoe brand made for female ballers, just dropped two new models for the upcoming NCAA season: the Triple Double, a high-top shoe designed for forwards and bigs, and the Neovolt Low, a low-top shoe designed for guards.

These shoes are available on the Moolah Kicks website, but you can also find the full lineup of shoes in stores exclusively at Dick’s Sporting Goods. While you’re there, pick up some of Moolah’s performance apparel as well!

Frozen Moments

• Cooper Flagg’s official high school mixtape is COLD. 🥶 

• Zach LaVine had one of the smoothest combos we’ve ever seen… 😎

• Despite trade rumors, Malcolm Brogdon is locked in on defense. 🔒

What We’re Enjoying

This artist has one of the most impressive skillsets we’ve ever seen—luckily for us, he uses it to make basketball-themed art 🎨⬇️

Plus, check out this fun article from The Ringer: The Good, the Bad, and the Wild From 21 Years of the NBA’s Annual GM Survey

Signing Off

TGIF, Enjoyers! We hope this weekend is exciting, or maybe just nice and relaxing. Whatever you need to help recharge! 😁

-Conor Geelan

Trivia Answer: Excluding Chris Paul (a HOF lock), Kevin Johnson leads all non-HOFers in career APG with 9.12! History forgets him, but the 3X All-Star guard was a force in the 90s!

Before you go…