What’s it like to watch a lifetime of hard work pay off? Just ask the newest Naismith Hall of Famers. 😎
Today’s Lineup
🏆 Welcome To The Hall
The Naismith HOF inducts its newest class.
🔄 Dennis Gets Dealt
The Cavs send Schroder to Charlotte for Tre Mann.
👀 Buy the Breakout
Three teams that could outperform expectations next season.
🎉 Happy birthday Rudy Gay, Daniss Jenkins, Christian Laettner, and Tyrus Thomas! 🎉
Around the Association
Stoudemire, Parker, Rivers highlight 2026 Naismith HOF Class
On Saturday night, a new group of greats was officially inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Let’s meet five of the newest legends.
Amar’e Stoudemire was a six-time NBA All-Star and member of some iconic teams in the 2000s and 2010s (including one we’ll touch on more later). The 6-foot-10 forward was one of the league’s most effective and efficient scorers, twice averaging 25 PPG on 55% shooting or better. His #32 is retired in Phoenix, and he’s immortal in the Big Apple, where he continually lit up MSG from 2010-2015.
Elena Delle Donne was a nightmare for opposing post defenders from the moment she entered the WNBA in 2013. The first-year All-Star Rookie of the Year dominated inside (50.4% career shooter on twos) and outside (39.2% from beyond the arc on 3.6 attempts per night) en route to two MVP awards, including one in 2019 when she led the Washington Mystics to their first-ever championship. She also joined the 50-40-90 club that season, the first WNBA player ever to do so.
Mike D’Antoni authored one of the most distinct offensive styles we’ve ever seen from a head coach: run, score, and run some more. The two-time COTY’s stint with Steve Nash and Stoudemire in Phoenix produced the famed “Seven Seconds or Less” offense, a hyper-fast, hyper-efficient way to maximize scoring output and sharp shot selection. Then, in the final stint of his head coaching career, D’Antoni coached another MVP of a different style: James Harden, who led the league in scoring during three of his four seasons with D’Antoni.
Doc Rivers is a familiar face to modern NBA fans, but before he was helming the Clippers, 76ers, or Bucks, Rivers brought home a championship as coach of the historic 2008 Celtics. With Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen leading the charge, Boston won 66 regular season games and beat Kobe Bryant’s Lakers 4-2 in the Finals to win the franchise’s first title in 22 years. Rivers also enjoyed a prosperous playing career, logging 13 seasons in the league and earning an All-Star nod in 1988. Congrats, coach!
Candace Parker is one of the WNBA’s most iconic figures, racking up an unparalleled resume by career’s end: two MVPs, three championships, and one of the most complete games the sport has ever seen. Over the course of her 16 seasons in the W, Parker brought home a DPOY, an assist title, three rebounding titles, and three blocks titles. If there was a skill to learn, she mastered it. Oh, and don’t forget the two college natties at Tennessee. One of the GOATs!
🏀 🏀 🏀
Cavs send Schroder to Hornets for Tre Mann
Charlotte isn’t done shuffling its guard rotation, and the latest addition is a well-known NBA vet. Let’s break down the deal.
Charlotte receives: Dennis Schroder, cash considerations
Cleveland receives: Tre Mann
Why Charlotte said yes: After dealing LaMelo Ball earlier this offseason, the Hornets will attempt to replicate the former All-Star’s impact in the aggregate. Resigning Coby White was the biggest move in that endeavor, but adding Schroder gives Buzz City another veteran floor general to facilitate shots for its young stars. And if the best ability really is availability, then Schroder is the guy you want: the last time he played fewer than 60 games in a season was his rookie year in 2014. This also marks Schroder’s 12th career team, putting him one shy of Ish Smith’s all-time record.
Why Cleveland said yes: This deal offers a bit of financial relief for the Cavs, but the 25-year-old Mann also poses a low-risk, high-reward opportunity. In 2025, Mann shot 40% from three on 4.6 attempts a night through 13 games before a back injury sidelined him for the rest of the year. Though his shooting regressed this season, a return to form could give the Cavs the bench spark plug they’ve been missing since the departure of Ty Jerome last offseason. Plus, he once scored 23 PTS in a single quarter. That’s a guy worth betting on.
🧠 Daily Trivia 🧠
Buy the Breakout
Heading into the 2026 season, the San Antonio Spurs’ over/under for wins was set at 44.5. Instead, they won 62 and advanced to the NBA Finals. Every campaign has teams that exceed expectations, and 2027 will be no different. Here are three squads to watch.
💪 Indiana Pacers
Indiana isn’t your typical sleeper— most teams with iconic Finals runs less than 15 months in the past don’t have to deal with underestimations. But with outlets projecting the Pacers under 45 wins in 2027, they’ll have the chance to play underdog once again. Tyrese Haliburton is back in the fold after recovering from his Achilles tear, and the main departures from that 2025 run (Myles Turner, Benedict Mathurin) have been swapped with capable replacements (Ivica Zubac, Kelly Oubre). Indiana won 50 games two seasons ago before catching fire in the postseason— can they do it again?
🏀 🏀 🏀
🎵 Utah Jazz
After winning 31 games or fewer in each of the last three seasons, the Jazz haven’t done a great deal to generate lofty expectations. But this year’s group is markedly different, with Jaren Jackson Jr. stepping in to help lead a group flush with young talent. Keyonte George is ready to take the All-Star leap, Ace Bailey should continue to improve in Year 2, and Darryn Peterson’s lethal precision could make him a high-impact rookie. If JJJ and Lauri Markkanen are their typical stud selves, this team could easily surpass its mid-30-wins billing.
🏀 🏀 🏀
🐴 Dallas Mavericks
Do you believe in Dusty Maye? That’s the core question that will determine your level of confidence in this year’s Mavs squad, who have lots of potential and lots of uncertainty. How will Kyrie Irving fare in his return from an ACL tear? Will Cooper Flagg continue his meteoric trajectory and become a true #1 option? And most importantly, can Maye, who led Michigan to a national championship in April, adapt to the NBA level quickly enough to win in Year 1? Only time will tell, but with a mid-30s win projection, Dallas could take a leap if it answers those questions correctly.
Three in the Key
🤩 Future #1 Pick?
Kansas commit Tyran Stokes is like that.
🎥 LeBron James… YouTube Star
The King launches his career as a golf creator.
🔥 Put this in NBA terms
Football season is fast approaching…
What We’re Enjoying
Every Numbers on the Board episode is special, but when Tyrese Haliburton joins the show, our guys have no choice but to clutch up. They did exactly that, delivering a fire conversation with the Indiana star on everything from injury rehab to his legendary Finals run to his impending return to the court. A must-watch!
Signing Off
And we out! Thanks for spending a portion of your day with us. This week, don’t be afraid to push through the obstacles the world throws at you. Just like Tyrese overcame heartbreak on the biggest stage, you can persevere through even the toughest challenges. See you soon!
Walker Carnathan
