2023 FIBA World Cup: Germany wins gold, U.S. fails to reach podium. Here are 4 observations.

Dennis Schroder came through in the clutch to lead Germany over Serbia in the gold medal game at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Manila, Philippines. Schroder, who had a game-high 28 points in the championship game, was spectacular throughout the tournament, averaging 19.1 points and 6.1 assists en route to winning the FIBA … [Read more…]

2023 FIBA World Cup predictions: Here are the 16 nations advancing to the second round

It’s disappointing that some of the world’s best players such as Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, and Steph Curry won’t be participating in basketball’s biggest international tournament. But their absence shouldn’t take away from the excitement and immense anticipation of the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup. Jokic, the face of Serbia’s national … [Read more…]

2023 FIBA World Cup: Young and inexperienced USA squad has something to prove

The United States senior men’s national team enters the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup with the weight of the world on its shoulder. Being the hunted is a familiar position for Team USA after being so dominant for nearly 20 years. But the rest of the world is catching up, and winning a gold medal … [Read more…]

Rookies who shined — and fizzled — at the 2023 NBA summer league in Las Vegas

The NBA summer league is the best teaser to what to expect from the incoming rookie class. As expected, the top lottery picks didn’t disappoint, while others have obvious weaknesses that need to be corrected. The Las Vegas summer league was the main event of the NBA offseason. All 30 teams, armed with their first-round … [Read more…]

Jokic takes No. 1 spot in OMFB Furious Five ranking. Here are the 5 best basketball players.

They don’t call him Nikola Jokic “The Joker” for nothing. When a reporter covering the 2023 NBA Finals asked Jokic if he considers himself the best player in the world, he responded in classic Joker fashion. “I’m confused,” the Denver Nuggets superstar center replied. “It’s hard to say. Sometimes I am, sometimes I’m not. And … [Read more…]

NBA Finals MVP Nikola Jokic and Denver Nuggets are changing the game with old-school basketball

The small ball era had a good run. The Denver Nuggets — led by 6-foot-11, 285-pound center Nikola Jokic — officially expired the small ball era with a brand of old-school basketball principles that rely mostly on size and strength over pace and space. The Nuggets plowed through the 2023 NBA playoffs, winning 16 of … [Read more…]

NBA Finals: ‘Electric playoff performer’ Jamal Murray fuels Denver’s high-powered machine

Jamal Murray had an opportunity to tie the score as time expired in Game 2 of the 2023 NBA Finals, but his step-back 3-pointer against Jimmy Butler bounced off the rim. It was a shot Murray has made on multiple occasions. When he missed, he was more surprised than than disappointed. It shows the level … [Read more…]

NBA playoffs: 3 reasons why Celtics ‘failed’ to make history against Heat in conference finals

Eventually, some team is going to break the streak. In the history of the NBA, when teams take a 3-0 lead in a best-of-seven playoff series, the likelihood of having a shot at winning the series is about as improbable as correctly choosing all six numbers in the lottery. It’s a 1 in 13,983,816 chance … [Read more…]

L.A. Lakers unlocked ‘Pistol Pete’ Reaves after Westbrook trade. They can’t afford to lose him.

After making a crucial mid-range shot in the fourth quarter of his first NBA playoff game, an energized Austin Reaves jogged back on defense and screamed toward the L.A. Lakers bench saying, “I’m him! I’m him!” The meme-mable moment was one of the defining images of the 2023 NBA playoffs. It was extra special for … [Read more…]

7-foot-4 phenom Wembanyama is the top prize in 2023 NBA draft. Here are the 10 best prospects.

Victor Wembanyama doesn’t like being called “The Unicorn.” It’s the nickname mostly associated with Latvian standout Kristaps Porzingis. About the only thing Wembanyama and Porzingis have in common is their height. Both are extremely tall men raised on European soil. But the comparisons end there. Wembanyama is a far, far better prospect at this stage … [Read more…]