🏀 Is This the Year?

88 days to go, people! We might be in the dog days of the NBA offseason, but let us be your oasis in the desert of hoops content. Today we have some of our favorite names to watch out for next season, plus a preview of an absolutely loaded WNBA weekend. Let’s dig in.

Today’s Lineup

Remember the Name: Our 2023 breakout candidates!

A Wild Weekend in the W: Crina breaks down the teams to watch in the WNBA

Test Your Knowledge: This simple NBA game will have you addicted

The 2023 Enjoy Basketball Breakout Team

PG: Tyus Jones

Listen, we know that Tyus Jones isn't exactly a deep cut when it comes to breakout players, but sometimes you have to start with an easy layup before bombing away from deep.

Jones has been part of the best backup PG in the league conversation for years now, and he's finally getting an opportunity to shine in Washington. The AST/TO king averaged 17 points and eight dimes in 20 games without Ja Morant last season, and he'll serve a critical role for the Wizards as a table-setter for promising youngsters, including Deni Avdija, Jordan Poole, and this year's lottery pick Bilal Coulibaly.

Our Favorite Highlight:

SG: Isaac Okoro 

This is one of those cases where it's important to separate the player from the draft position. Isaac Okoro was a top-five pick back in 2020, and it's totally fair to say that he isn't exactly on the track to future stardom that might be expected from such a high selection. However, Cavs fans shouldn't take for granted just how good of a role player he can be.

First off, Okoro is a really, really good defender. A versatile guard who can hang with anyone on the perimeter, he tied with Evan Mobley for the best Defensive Box Plus-Minus on the Cavs last season. And, while he was ice cold as a shooter to start his career, Okoro caught fire from deep in 2023, shooting over 44% from beyond the arc. He still doesn't have the on-ball skills to become a true offensive force, but the Auburn grad is quickly turning into the type of 3&D player that teams need to win titles, even if not everyone has caught on yet.

Our Favorite Highlight:

SF: Jalen Johnson

Trivia time! How many forwards younger than 28 have an assist percentage over 10, a steal percentage over 1.5, and a block percentage over 2.5? The answer is one, and you can probably already guess his name.

Jalen Johnson is one of those glue guys who do a little bit of everything, except he also happens to have a seven-foot wingspan and can jump out of the gym (sort of like a jumbo-sized Josh Hart.) His all-around offensive game still has to come around to fully unlock his potential, but he'll have plenty of opportunities in Atlanta now that John Collins is on his way to Utah.

Our Favorite Highlight:

PF: Jonathan Kuminga

Chris Paul plus athletic young forwards is a success story as old as time. Now that the Point God is in Golden State, he might be just the guy to unlock the special talent of Jonathan Kuminga.

Still just 20 years old, Kuminga was an absolute force after the All-Star break last season, averaging over 13-4-2 on 57/44/67 splits in the absence of Andrew Wiggins. An elite cutter, Kuminga will only get better with service from one of the best dimers in league history.

The only question is, will he get enough opportunities to shine? Wiggins and Draymond Green are sure to get a lion's share of minutes at forward, so it will be up to Kuminga to solidify himself as that third wing who can get serious playing time off the bench.

Our Favorite Highlight:

C: Zach Collins

Few players have added more to their game over the past couple of seasons than Zach Collins.

After a stint in Portland ravaged by injuries, Collins was reborn in San Antonio with a budding perimeter game and newly discovered playmaking gene. The Gonzaga grad put it all together down the stretch last season, shooting nearly 40 percent from deep after the All-Star break on nearly five attempts per game, all while anchoring the Spurs' interior defense with over a steal and block a night.

As Victor Wembanyama fills into his ridiculous frame, Collins is the perfect center to have alongside him. He can bang on the boards, space the floor, protect the rim, and generally just make things a lot easier for the young French prodigy.

Our Favorite Highlight:

Around the W With Crina

This weekend has a full slate of WNBA action, but we’ve got you covered with the three teams you should be watching and WHY!

1. Minnesota Lynx

The Lynx are playing nearly .500 basketball as of late and deserve your attention. Their most recent win came over the Washington Mystics, rookie Diamond Miller has looked very solid in her return from injury, and Napheesa Collier has been playing at an MVP level. With Jessica Shepard back in the rotation as well, the Lynx are starting to look a bit more cohesive as a squad. Here are their matchups this weekend:

Friday, July 28: Minnesota Lynx vs. New York Liberty at 8 p.m. ET on ionTV/League Pass

Sunday, July 30: Minnesota Lynx vs. Connecticut Sun at 1 p.m. ET on CBS Sports

Those are two big matchups for the Lynx, but it may be a great test against two potential contenders.

2. New York Liberty

Questions have been swirling around this Liberty ‘superteam.’ Are they good enough? Are they relying too much on Stewie? How far can this team actually go? Well, they’re off to their best start in franchise history, are second in the league, and have been sharing the load with each other a lot more as of late. As they continue to get reps with each other throughout the season, they will, to their hopes, continue to get stronger. Here are their matchups this weekend:

Friday, July 28: Minnesota Lynx vs. New York Liberty at 8 p.m. ET on ionTV/League Pass

Sunday, July 30: New York Liberty vs. LA Sparks at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN3

These are games that the Liberty will want to use to gain more wins on their record and get prepared for tougher matchups against teams like the Las Vegas Aces or the Connecticut Sun.

3. Dallas Wings

If there is a team that has been the one to watch this month, it’s been the Dallas Wings. They are currently the only team in the WNBA to have beaten BOTH the Las Vegas Aces and the New York Liberty. They are fourth in the standings, behind the top 3 contenders: Aces, Liberty, and Sun. It’s been an impressive stint for them, and you’ll want to tune into their matchups this weekend:

Friday, July 28: Washington Mystics vs. Dallas Wings at 8 p.m. ET on ionTV/League Pass

Sunday, July 30: Dallas Wings vs. Las Vegas Aces at 6 p.m. ET on CBS Sports

Frozen Moments

• Steph Curry makes his first appearance on Hot Ones 🔥

• You won’t believe what Mikal Bridges wants as a second job

• Jaylen Brown keeps it real when asked what he wants to do with his new contract

What We’re Enjoying

Crossover Grid: Just in case you aren't in the know, Crossover Grid has been taking the chronically-online sports community by storm. The concept is simple, you have a grid with six NBA teams (and sometimes a fun accolade), and all you have to do is name a player who played for both teams that line up with the grid. A perfect way to start your morning (right after you finish the newsletter, of course).

Signing Off

Usually, this is where we say that's it for today, but there's actually one more thing to tell you about this time. 👀

If you’re in the NYC area, pull up to our community hoops run on August 5th! Come through to hoop, hang with fellow Enjoyers, and talk ball! Fill out the RSVP and bring your friends with you: the more, the merrier!

See you soon!

-Spencer Poole 

Trivia Answer: The shortest player in the NBA with a seven-foot wingspan is Talen Horton-Tucker at just 6’2.5”!