We like to joke around here, but all that fun stuff ends today. From here on out, we’re a serious newsletter that talks about serious things and asks serious questions. Like this one:
Would you rather...
See what we mean? Great. Let’s get going.
Today’s Lineup
Prospect Reclassification 👦🏻 : Who is Cooper Flagg, and why is this a big deal?
HOF Adds Some Legends ⭐️: Top moments from the emotional ceremony.
James Harden… is a Sixer 🤨: Why couldn’t Philly find a trade for The Beard?
But first, some trivia:
What player has the highest single-season usage rate ever?
Who Will Capture The Flagg?
The Wemby sweepstakes are over. The Cooper Flagg sweepstakes, however, are just beginning.
Flagg, originally destined for the 2026 class, has reclassified and will now be eligible for the 2025 Draft. It may sound silly to start planning for a player’s arrival when he won’t be in the NBA for another two years, but when you watch Flagg’s tape, you’ll understand. His coordination, aggressiveness, and balance are not typical among high school juniors.
James Harden Is Staying. For Now.
This is the complete list of events that are more disappointing than a huge superstar trade fizzling out:
Someone eating your leftovers
Wet socks
End of list. Frankly, using the phrase “fizzling out” might even be too much—there never seemed to be much momentum on a James Harden trade in the first place.
There hasn’t been much secrecy surrounding this situation since The Beard asked Philadelphia for a trade. Harden made it clear that his preferred destination was the Clippers, but Los Angeles wasn’t super keen on the idea of investing in he expiring contract.
So after all this, the Sixers are running it back.
Do you think Harden & Embiid can advance to the Eastern Conference Finals?
We’re Not Crying, You’re Crying. Okay, We’re Crying
The HOF is no longer just players we’ve just heard stories about—it’s starting to fill up with players whose jerseys we owned. Players who made us fall in love with the sport. Players who we watched play live in-person!
Maybe that’s why Saturday’s HOF induction ceremony—which included Dwyane Wade, Dirk Nowitzki, and Becky Hammon—felt so emotional. A beautiful night for basketball indeed.
Frozen Moments
This NBA superstar decided not to play in the upcoming FIBA World Cup… 😞
Always bet on A’Ja Wilson. Because she plays in Las Vegas. Get it?
In-game dunks just get crazier and crazier. WHAT IS THIS???
What We’re Enjoying
FIFA Women’s World Cup: Yes, we know the United States was knocked out in the Round of 16. But there’s still some great soccer to be played! Spain, Sweden, England, and host country Australia are the four teams remaining from the original field of 32. The level of play (especially from the goalkeepers) has been stunning all tournament long. Take a look:
Signing Off
We’ll catch you later. In the meantime, set a goal for yourself this week. No matter how small, it always feels great to accomplish something you set out to do. Talk soon!
Trivia Answer: In his MVP season, Russell Westbrook had an NBA-record usage rate of 41.65!
Before you go…
Do you think there are too many players in the Basketball Hall of Fame?
