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Summer’s winding down, y’all! Good thing the perpetual cycle of ASG format changes never ends.

Before we get started, you could win a copy of NBA 2K26 (or 250,000 VC) by following these three easy steps! Two winners will be announced this Sunday. 👀

1. Follow @EnjoyBBall on Instagram. 📲

2. Like the IG post. ❤️

3. Tag three friends in the comments! 🏀

Today’s Lineup

🎉 Happy birthday to T.J. Warren, Davion Mitchell, and Lance Stephenson! 🎉

Around the Association

NBA All-Star 2026 to include three eight-player squads in USA vs. World tournament

More changes to the NBA All-Star experience have come!

Shams Charania reported this week that the 2026 NBA All-Star Game will feature three eight-player teams that compete against each in other a round-robin tournament. Two of the squads will be “USA” teams, while the third will be a “World” team representing the NBA’s international players.

Imagine a squad led by Steph Curry, LeBron James, and Anthony Edwards going up against Luka Doncic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Nikola Jokic. Unreal.

The exact details of the tournament are yet to be released, with the format having been discussed and met with positive responses by team governors, executives, and players, according to Shams’ report. After last year’s format, which included a target score of 40 points for each round and the inclusion of a Rising Stars team in the four-team single-elimination bracket, hoops fans and NBA players alike are looking for the next great idea.

The 2026 All-Star Game will be played on February 15th in Los Angeles at the Intuit Dome, the new home of the Clippers. Los Angeles is also home to the 2026 Winter Olympics, which will be in full stride when the All-Star Game takes place. Can you imagine how much sports we’ll be getting in February? It might not be healthy.

Offseason Quick Hits:

• RFA guard Cam Thomas signs one-year, $6 million qualifying offer to return to Brooklyn Nets; deal includes a full no-trade clause and sets Thomas up for unrestricted free agency in 2026.

• Forward PJ Washington and Dallas Mavericks agree to four-year, $90 million contract extension to keep Washington in the DFW through 2029-30.

• 2023 No. 24 pick Olivier-Maxence Prosper signs two-way deal with Memphis Grizzlies after being waived by Dallas last week.

Top Five Friday

There’s only one more week of WNBA regular season action, and with big names and storylines flying all over the place, we’re ready to make some predictions. Here are our five favorites to win the 2025 WNBA Finals: ⬇️

1. Minnesota Lynx: Currently slated for a first-round matchup against the injury-riddled Indiana Fever, the Lynx have been the best team throughout this entire regular season. Reigning DPOY Napheesa Collier is this year’s MVP favorite, while Kayla McBride and Courtney Williams round out Minnesota’s electrifying top three. Don’t count out Alanna Smith on the perimeter either! This team is nasty.

2. New York Liberty: The reigning champions are back, and they have a secret weapon this time around. Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart have been cooking as New York’s 1-2 punch, and Jonquel Jones has thrilled fans with one of her best shooting seasons in years. But Emma Meesseman, the Belgian forward and former WNBA Finals MVP who signed with the Liberty last month after playing the last three years in Turkey, could be the X-factor that New York needs to remain on top among a strong pool of contenders. The 32-year-old Meesseman dropped 24 points in back-to-back games in August.

3. Las Vegas Aces: We know what the Aces can do in the playoffs (see: back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023). We know who A’ja Wilson is (see: DPOYs in ‘22 and ‘23 and MVPs in ‘20, ‘22, and ‘24). Combine those things with the fact that Las Vegas went a league-best 12-1 last month, and it’s hard to call the Aces anything other than legitimate contenders heading into this month’s postseason. It hasn’t been the smoothest sailing for the Aces this summer, but watch out for the M’VP.

4. Atlanta Dream: The Dream could have been even higher on this list given how exciting they’ve been recently—they went 9-3 in August (second only to Las Vegas), benefitting from Allisha Gray playing like a dark-horse MVP candidate. With a healthy core finally taking the floor together, the Dream are peaking at the right time. Could they crash the Finals party?

5. Phoenix Mercury: Don’t sleep on the Valley’s quiet juggernaut. Backed by the unbreakable MVP-level will of Alyssa Thomas, the Mercury have quietly ripped their way to a premier standing in the West. Add in Satou Sabally and Kahleah Copper, and you get a high-octane unit that dominates in both points per possession and defensive lockdowns. Their blend of grit and star power might just make Phoenix the dark horse this season has been waiting for.

Three in the Key

Signing Off

Happy Friday, Enjoyers! We know the 2025 NFL season is kicking off, so we won’t be offended if your brain is in football mode this weekend. Just be sure to be back on Monday. Peace! ✌️

Austin Zeglis