Tim Bontemps
Senior NBA writer for ESPN. Prior stops: Washington Post, New York Post. Proud St. Bonaventure alum.
- This ending of Wolves-Grizzlies has been awesome.
- New ESPN story: “You cannot intimidate Pat Riley.” The stare down between Riley and Jimmy Butler that will dominate the NBA for the next month, the streaking Cavs, a look at the trade market & more in this week’s trip around the NBA with Windo. www.espn.com/nba/insider/...
- Moving D’Angelo Russell now decreases the chances of the Lakers making a big move this year. But, as we’ve talked about a lot, it’s unclear any big salary moves will be happening at all. So to get a useful player for him (albeit one who has slipped defensively) in DFS for him is a good move for LAL.
- What a start to the Christmas Day NBA slate: — Knicks win behind 41 from Mikal Bridges and some absurd play from Josh Hart late — Victor Wembanyama goes for 42-18-4-4 in his Christmas debut, falls just short of Wilt’s record of 45 Just a tremendous back-and-forth game right down to the end.
- No, I think Jokic pretty clearly deserved to win. I had Luka second and Shai third, but think you could easily have flipped them (as they were in the overall ballot).
- Ha. His rim numbers have gotten much better as the season has progressed, and he’s been great, though I do have concerns about their defense overall (and still would have Brunson above him in MVP discussions).
- The major takeaway, for me — as discussed on today’s Hoop Collective with MacMahon and Windhorst — is that there’s a very clear top 3, and unlike in past years I think it’ll be very difficult for anyone else to break into it. Choosing between them, though, is going to be excruciating all year.
- Might as well debut here on a big day: Straw Poll Day! Here’s the first MVP Straw Poll of the 2024-25 campaign, which is shaping up to be a contentious three-horse race between very deserving candidates — and saw a big shift after Tuesday’s NBA Cup final. Thoughts? www.espn.com/nba/insider/...
