Enjoyers, we’re officially Nazr Mohammed days away from the start of the NBA season. Things are getting serious out here.

Today’s Lineup

Around the NBA

Evan Fournier heads to Europe 👋

Time really does fly in the NBA! It feels like just yesterday, Evan Fournier was splashing threes for the Magic and Knicks while finishing top-five in the league in long-range bombs. Now, after 12 NBA seasons, Fournier is heading back to Europe and signing a two-year, $4 million deal with Greek powerhouse Olympiakos.

We’re feeling a bit nostalgic seeing Fournier leave the league, but his game is far from over! The French vet is bringing veteran savvy scoring skills and that smooth, smooth jumper to the EuroLeague, where he's sure to keep lighting it up. Here’s to the next chapter for Evan—we'll be watching from across the pond! 🌊🏀

Nets add Chinese sharpshooter Jacky Cui on two-way deal 🎯

Brooklyn may have just pulled off one of the most underrated moves of the offseason! At just 20 years old, Yongxi "Jacky" Cui is a lanky 6'8" shooting guard who has already made waves in the basketball world. Last season, Cui was one of the purest shooters in the Chinese Basketball Association, knocking down threes like it was his day job.

But it's not just his shooting that caught our eye—Cui continued to turn heads at the G League predraft workout camp, where he showed off some solid measurables and went absolutely nuts in the three-point shooting drills. The Nets are betting on his potential, and if his recent performances are anything to go by, he might just be the hidden gem Sean Marks and Company have been searching for.

Keep an eye out for Jacky—this kid could be the next big thing in Brooklyn! 🌆🏀

Random Stat GOATs

Charge Drawer: Ersan Ilyasova

Is there anyone in NBA history more mysterious than Ersan Ilyasova? Between rumors that he was actually three years older than his listed age and his status as the league's greatest charge-taker, Ersan has always been a bit of an enigma. While Kyle Lowry technically holds the record with 259 charges drawn, Ersan isn’t far behind with 251—despite playing over 200 fewer games and averaging more than ten fewer minutes per night!

Think about that. The guy was practically a walking, talking brick wall for 13 years straight.

And it wasn’t just for show: Ersan put his body on the line every. Single. Game. Word on the street is he broke his nose nine different times throughout his career while stepping in to take charges. Nine times! That’s some serious dedication (or insanity) from the NBA's ultimate charge-drawing maestro. What a beast!

Half-Court Heaver: Steph Curry

Sometimes, when you're searching for random stats, you're hoping to discover a fun throwback player nobody remembers. But other times, you just find out that the best shooter in NBA history is also the best at something weird. Enter Steph Curry, AKA the GOAT of half-court heaves. While most players don't even bother with these shots (since, let’s be real, they just tank your shooting percentage), Steph has always been the ultimate real one and never shies away from letting it rip, drilling 6 of his 126 attempts from beyond half-court during his career.

Here’s where it gets even wilder: if you take out all those half-court shots, Steph would actually be top ten all-time in three-point percentage, while sitting comfortably at #1 in total makes. Just imagine a guy chucking from 40 feet regularly and still dominating the stats. Only Steph could pull off that kind of wizardry! 🎯

Not Fouling: Ben Wallace

Okay. “Not fouling" might sound like the most random stat ever, but hear us out. Ben Wallace makes this one really interesting. A 6'9" center with the aggression of a seven-footer and the foot speed of a guard swatting shots left and right, Big Ben was a defensive nightmare. And yet, despite being one of the most ferocious and dominant defenders in NBA history, Wallace barely fouled anyone! He's the only player with over 1,500 career blocks who averaged fewer than two fouls per game.

This guy was stuffing prime Shaq like it was nothing, and he still managed to avoid sending dudes to the line. Talk about controlled chaos! Our respect for this Pistons legend just shot up a few more notches. 🧱✋

Three in the Key

Signing Off

Thanks for spending part of your morning with us, even when there aren’t big flashy headlines in the dog days of the offseason. Looking forward to sharing another year of excellent hoops with y’all! 💙🏀

Talk soon,

-Spencer Poole