The youngest MVP in NBA history. A legend in the city of Chicago.

And now, a jersey to hang in the United Center forever. Derrick Rose, take a bow.

Today’s Lineup

🎉 Happy birthday Vince Carter, Darius Garland, Isaac Okoro, Gerald Green, and Montrezl Harrell! 🎉

Game Recaps

Bulls retire D-Rose’s jersey, win 114-111 thriller over Celtics

Some nights, the scriptwriters get it right.

Saturday was one of those times, as the city of Chicago celebrated a banner night between the jersey retirement of franchise legend Derrick Rose and a last-second win over Boston. Rose, who became the youngest MVP in league history when he took home the award for his hometown Bulls in 2011, saw his No. 1 jersey raised to the rafters at the United Center alongside other greats like Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen.

In the game itself, the current Bulls made sure the night ended with a bang. Tied at 111 in the final moments, Kevin Huerter splashed in a corner three for the win and made sure to pay homage to D-Rose’s legendary stone-faced celebration. When it comes to Enjoying basketball, players like D-Rose and nights like this one are tough to beat.

Toronto pushes past OKC 103-101, Quickley scores 23

A few days after dropping arguably the most efficient 40-piece in NBA history, Immanuel Quickley is out for bragging rights.

In a matchup between former Kentucky guards, IQ got the better of reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, notching 23 PTS and 11 AST as Toronto handed OKC its second straight loss. The Thunder’s vaunted defense did its thing, holding the Raps to 103 PTS, while Shai scored 24 PTS on just 11 shots. But a 26% three-point shooting day — combined with the absences of Jalen Williams and Isaiah Hartenstein — opened the door for a Toronto win.

The Raps’ current success is a model for modern NBA team-building. Of the nine players who saw the court in their win vs. OKC, four were drafted by Toronto and four were acquired via trade. Only one, Sandro Mamukelashvili, was added in Free Agency, and he’s currently on a two-year, $5.5 million deal. As the second apron reduces the amount of quickly-assembled, highly-expensive super teams, other franchises can look north for an example of an organization that carefully crafted its roster with shrewd drafting and asset management.

And by the way, all nine of those players are also below the age of 29. Watch out for the Raps, both this year and in the years to come!

Elsewhere around the NBA:

• It’s been a tough season for Pelicans fans, but a double-double from their former No. 1 overall pick is always a welcome sight. Zion Williamson’s 24 PTS and 10 REB helped NOLA to a 104-95 win over San Antonio, with the Pels holding off a furious Spurs comeback to secure their 12th win of the season. After Wemby and co. opened the fourth quarter on a 24-5 run, New Orleans rebounded with a 17-3 stretch to close it out.

• Any time Luka Doncic returns to Dallas, it’s going to make headlines. This time, it was because the former Mavs star showcased a skill the franchise once said he lacked: defense. In a 116-110 Lakers win, Luka scored 33 PTS and recorded a number of key stops in the fourth quarter, much to the delight of LA coach JJ Redick.

• The Heat moved up to seventh in the East following back-to-back wins on Saturday and Sunday night. First, Miami blazed by Utah, dropping 147 PTS en route to a 31-point win. Then, they got it done the other end, holding Phoenix to 37% shooting in a 111-102 win. The common factor was Bam Adebayo, who scored 26 and 22 PTS respectively in the dubs.

• On Saturday, New York and Philly got into a good old-fashioned slugfest, with Jalen Brunson and the Knicks ultimately throwing the knockout blow. The Sixers were led by a resurgent Joel Embiid (38 PTS, 11 REB), who continues to look more and more like his former MVP self. But the Knicks have an alpha of their own, and Brunson’s big day (31 PTS, 6 AST, 6/12 from three) keyed the 112-109 victory. After New York led by 13 going into the fourth quarter, the Sixers cut the lead to just two with 1:34 to go. But then, a pair of threes from OG Anunoby (who played clutch defense throughout the second half) and Landry Shamet were enough to put the game away.

Enjoy Stock Market

Let’s get into the latest edition of the Enjoy stock market, where we break down the teams, players, and trends on the rise in the league this week.

📈 Naji Marshall’s Stock

Naji Marshall has been in the NBA since 2020, but he’s never been more in demand than he is right now. The Mavs’ 6’6” do-it-all forward is averaging 22 PPG over his last seven games, and that hot stretch has his trade market ablaze. Several contenders, including the Knicks, are reportedly looking to swing a deal for Marshall, while the Mavs aren’t willing to part with him for anything less than a first-round pick. Something to watch as the trade deadline approaches…

📈 Motor City Advantage

It’s no secret the Pistons are enjoying one of their best seasons in recent memory, but one underrated aspect of their 33-11 start is their homecourt advantage. Detroit is 18-5 at Little Caesars Arena this year, just a few games behind OKC for the best home record in the league. On Sunday, the Bad Boys gave their fans more to cheer for with a 139-116 over Sacramento that saw Cade Cunningham score 29 PTS.

📈 Draft Prospect Hype

The hype surrounding the top of the upcoming NBA draft class keeps growing, and for good reason. BYU’s AJ Dybantsa made waves this weekend with 43 PTS in the Cougars’ win over Utah, shattering the program’s freshman scoring record. Cam Boozer, son of former NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer, continues to dominate for Duke, most recently racking up 32 PTS and 9 REB in a 21-point win over Wake Forest. And though Kansas’s Darryn Peterson has missed some time with injury this season, he’s still averaging over 21 PPG and shooting 42% from three. Boozer and Dybantsa are among the current favorites for National Player of the Year, while Peterson is projected to go No. 1 overall. These guys are going to be SPECIAL. 🤩

Three in the Key

Signing Off

And we out! Thanks for spending a portion of your day with us. This week, remember to stay confident in yourself no matter what life throws at you. Achieving great things starts with believing you can! See you soon.

Walker Carnathan