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Waiting for the Finals to begin is like baking a cake. You bubble up with excitement until the moment you’re finally able to dig in, but once it’s over, you wish you had it right there back in the oven ready to be devoured again.

So cherish these days, basketball fans. The grandest stage in sports is set. 😎

Today’s Lineup

A New #1?

While many have been critical of this year’s draft class, the openness of the field leaves the potential for one thing: chaos. This is truly the most unpredictable draft in years, so here are some of the potential surprises to keep your eye on.

Zaccharie Risacher: A Potential #1

While French phenom Alex Sarr has gotten most of the love as this draft’s presumptive #1 pick, another Frenchman has received lots of buzz in recent days. Risacher, who spent last season balling out for JL Bourg of the LNB Pro A in France, earned the projected top spot in several recent mock drafts thanks to his 6’10” frame and silkly shooting stroke (38% 3PT). He also recently became the second-youngest player to ever win the EuroCup Rising Star award. There may just never be another #1 pick that’s not a French big man!

Tristan Da Silva: Ready-Made Stud

With the recent advent of NIL in college basketball, age has begun to play less of a factor in draft decisions, which is huge for guys like Da Silva. The senior out of Colorado has all the makings of a gamechanger at the next level, with a 40% clip from beyond the arc and stellar defensive versatility. Look for a contender to take a shot on Da Silva toward the end of the first round—a win for not only him, but every older college hoopers with NBA dreams.

Bronny James: The Ultimate Enigma

Undoubtedly the most polarizing prospect of this cycle is Bronny James, who recently decided to keep his name in the draft pool and forgo the rest of his college eligibility. Bronny has been predicted to go everywhere from #1 (according to most bettors) to undrafted, but most have settled on a late second-round grade for the USC product. Being the son of arguably the greatest player ever is a blessing and a curse, so we’re hoping that Bronny will have the chance to forge his own path independent of his father’s looming legacy.

Inking Up

A big congratulations to Mike Brown, who recently signed an extension with the Kings that will keep him in Sacramento until 2027! The new deal also comes with a bump in salary, raising Brown’s pay from $4.5 million annually to $8.5 million.

It’s easy to Enjoy the success of guys like Brown, last season’s COTY, who have put in so much work to reach the point they’re at. After his departure from Cleveland in 2014, Brown waited eight years to get another shot at a head coaching gig, and he’s made the most of it by resurrecting SacTown in a major way. Big ups to MB! 🎉

Finals Fun Facts

The biggest series in basketball has been played for nearly a century, but each iteration is special and unique. Let’s take a look at some fun facts about the battle for this season’s Larry O’Brien trophy.

Scores of Scorers

It takes a terrific sort of season to lead the league in scoring, so much so that scoring leaders rarely make it to the Finals. This season, Luka Doncic joins an exclusive club of players to win the scoring title and make the Finals in the same season, with Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, Allen Iverson, Kevin Durant and Steph Curry the only others to do so in the last 50 years.

Back in Boston

The Celtics are one of the most historically successful franchises in the NBA, with 17 championship banners hanging in the rafters at TD Garden. But despite that success, it’s been a minute since the C’s were favored in a Finals series. The last Boston team to go into the Finals as the favorites was the 1986 squad led by Larry Bird, who ultimately finished the job and brought the title back to Beantown.

Seething Seeding

In addition to the entire state of Texas, the Mavs are putting on for low playoff seeds from the entire Western conference. The last time a West team seeded as low as the Mavs (#5) advanced to the Finals was the Rockets in 1995, when Hakeem Olajuwon and company delivered a title to Houston. Dallas is out to show that the Lone Star State is made for upsets! 💪

Three in the Key

Signing Off

And we out! Thanks for spending a portion of your day with us. This week, try to do something that pushes you outside your comfort zone. Try a new restaurant, talk to a new person, or do anything that scares you just a little bit. It might just be exactly what you’ve been looking for! Talk soon.

-Walker Carnathan