In an offseason where the National Basketball Association (NBA) saw squads had to navigate a very restrictive new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) in putting together a team that can enter a 2025-26 campaign where each squad has distinctive goals and unique challenges to reach those goals. For the squads from “OKC;” “The Big Apple;” “The Land;” “Hollywood & Inglewood;” “The Twin Cities;” and “The Colorado Rockies;” their goal is to win a championship and in the case of the boys from “OKC” to repeat as NBA champs. These teams’ challenges are mainly to stay healthy and build sustained continuity. For the likes of the boys from. For the boys from “South Beach;” “Walt Disney World;” “Clutch City;” “ATL;” “The Alamo City;” “Big D;” “Music City;” and “The Motor City” their goal for this season is to build themselves into a squad that by this spring can be in the conversation of being a serious title contender with the challenge of showing they can go from being teams that can rise to the moment of becoming a champion. For the defending Eastern Conference champions from “Hoosier Country” and the boys from “Beantown,” the goal for this season is to display that they can rise to the moment without their respective All-Star headliners with their respective cast rising to the challenge of having to do more individually and collectively. For former champions from “The Cheese State;” and “The Bay Area” and the boys from “The City of Brotherly Love,” their goal for this season is to put themselves in the best position where their star headliner(s) all former MVPs can carry them back to the top of the NBA mountain with the hope that their supporting cast can answer the bell of playing to the level of where they can make some noise in the spring. For the boys from “Rip City;” “We The North;” “The Windy City;” and “The Big Easy” their goals is to be in a position where this spring are playing meaningful basketball where they make the Playoffs and can make some serious noise, with the challenge being put on their star headliners to remain healthy and impactful also individually and collectively. For the boys from “The Queen City;” “The BK;” “DC;” and “The Crossroads of the West,” their goal and challenge is to use this season as one where they are taking data to learn who on their roster are the building blocks for their rise to becoming playoff perennials and hopefully championship contenders. These goals and challenges will be the focus of the J-Speaks 2025-26 NBA Offseason Review/Season Preview.
Abbreviation Key-statistics from the 2024-25 season: PPG-points per game; RPG-rebounds per game; APG-assists per game; SPG-steals per game; BPG-block shots per game; FG%-field goal percentage; FGs-Field Goals; 3-Pt.%-three-point percentage; FT%-free throw percentage; FTs-Free Throws Opp.-opponents, and T-tied.
Eastern Conference
Atlanta Hawks: 40-42 record (2nd Southeast Division; No. 9 Seed In East) 21-19 at home; 19-22 on road (3-1 NBA Emirates Cup); Lost (110-102) NBA Emirates Cup Semifinals versus Milwaukee Bucks (TNT); Lost (120-95) No. 8 vs. No. 7 SoFi East Play-In Game Apr. 15, 2025 At Orlando Magic; Lost (123-114) No. 8 SoFi Play-In Game Apr. 18, 2025 versus Miami Heat (TNT).
-118.2 PPG-5th; Opp. PPG: 119.3-27th; 44.0 rpg-27th
Head Coach Quin Snyder is entering his second full season with the Hawks, and third season overall. Has a 458-363 (.561 Win%) career regular-season record in 11 seasons with Utah Jazz (372-264 Record 2014-22) and Atlanta Hawks (86-99 Record 2022-Present); 23-34 Record (.403 Win%) in Playoff Games W/UTA & ATL.
Outside of their lone title they won 1958 in St. Louis, MO, the Atlanta Hawks have had a few cracks at climbing that championship mountain in 1988, 2015, and 2021 specifically. Since their last East Finals appearance in 2021, the Hawks have had to make the Playoffs through the Play-In Tournament. They reached the postseason through the Play-In in 2022 and 2023, falling in the opening-round. The last two springs, the boys from the “ATL” have failed to make the Playoffs. Under new front office leadership where they reshaped the roster around their All-Star floor general, the goal for the Hawks in 2025-26 is to make some serious noise in a weakened Eastern Conference with the challenge of building continuity with the most talented and balanced roster, at least on paper since making the East Finals in 2021.
After a 7-11 start to 2024-25, the Hawks went 15-8 their next 23 games, which included a season-high six-game win streak (Nov. 27-Dec. 6, 2024) to be 22-19. They followed that up with a season-high eight-game losing streak (Jan. 20-Feb. 3, 2025) to fall to 22-27.
Head Coach Quin Snyder’s group closed 2024-25 with an 18-15 mark, which included win streaks of four straight (Mar. 6-12, 2025) and three three-game win streaks (Feb. 7-10, 2025; Mar. 16-23, 2025; Apr. 10-13, 2025).
The Hawks closed last season 9-5 at home in March 2025 and 4-4 in April 2025 as part of a 17-14 close to 20254-25 at State Farm Arena post Feb. 6, 22025 NBA Trade Deadline. They went 8-3 their final 11; 10-7 their final 17 at home.
However, the boys from the “ATL” closed 2024-25 with a 12-15 their final 27 games on the road. Their 19 wins away from State Farm Arena was their least since winning 17 games (17-24 record) on the road in 2022-23.
The Hawks reached the NBA Emirates Cup Semifinals over the Celtics (3-1 NBA Emirates Cup) by having a better point differential during Group Play, with a +8 over boys from "Beantown” in East Group C.
The headliner of the Hawks for the seventh straight season was four-time All-Star Trae Young (24.2 ppg, 11.6 apg-led NBA & career-high), who led all NBA guards with a career-high 51 double-doubles. This included 34 games with at least 20/10 (points/assists) and 13 games with at least 30/10 (points/assists). He became the first in Hawks history to lead “The Association” in assists per contest. Those league-leading 11.6 assists in 2024-25 also set a single-season franchise-record.
Behind Young, the Hawks finished No. 2 in the league in 2024-25 in assists per contest at 29.6 and was a big reason behind them ranking No. 5 in scoring per contest at 118.2.
Hawks All-Time Single-Season Assists Leaders
Total Assists APG Season
Trae Young 880 11.58 2024-25
Glenn “Doc” Rivers 823 10.15 1986-87
Trae Young 741 10.04 2022-23
Daron Oshay “Mookie” Blaylock 789 9.74 1993-94
Trae Young 737 9.70 2021-22
Trae Young 594 9.43 2020-21
Glenn “Doc” Rivers 747 9.34 1987-88
Trae Young 560 9.33 2019-20
Daron Oshay “Mookie” Blaylock 671 8.39 1992-93
Glenn “Doc” Rivers 443 8.36 1985-86
The 2022 All-NBA Third Team selection registered 51 games with 20 points or more, including 21 games with 30-plus points.
To illustrate the continued progression of Young balancing being a scorer and facilitator, his 3,872 points created in 2024-25 were the seventh most by a player in the play-by-play era (1997-98 season).
Last season, Young registered 37 of 193 career games with at least 20 points and 10 assists. That included three games with at least 20 points and 20 assists.
In the Hawks’ 135-124 victory Nov. 27, 2025 at the Cleveland Cavaliers, Young had 20 points and a career-high 22 assists (6/18 FGs-3/13 3-Pt.; 5/5 FTs).
In the Hawks’ 134-132 triumph in overtime Dec. 6, 2024 versus the Los Angeles Lakers, Young had 31 points and 20 assists with two steals (9/25 FGs-5/13 3-Pt.; 8/8 FTs). He became the first player in NBA history with 30/20/5 (points/assists/made three-pointers) and the 11th player in NBA history with a 30/20 (points/assists) game.
Young capped his third 20/20 (points/assists) game of the season with a game-winning buzzer beater from beyond halfcourt for a 124-121 victory Jan. 7, 2025 at the Utah Jazz. Young finished with 24 points and 20 assists (6/16 FGs-3/10 3-Pt.) going 9/10 from the charity stripe.
He became the first with three games of at least 20 points and 20 assists since Hall of Famer John Stockton did it for the Jazz in 1989-90 season.
Players In NBA History With At Least 30 Points and 20 Assists
Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL) 2024-25 Kevin Johnson 1988-89 & 1990-91 W/PHX
Nikola Jokic (DEN) 2024-25 Earvin “Magic” Johnson 1988-89 W/LAL
Trae Young (ATL) 2024-25 Isiah Thomas 1984-85 W/DET
Luka Doncic (LAL) 2020-21 W/DAL
Russell Westbrook (SAC) 2020-21 W/WAS
Mamoud Abdul-Rauf 1995-96 W/DEN
In the month of February 2025, Young averaged 28.3 points (6th NBA) and 11.6 assists, tying two-time Kia MVP Nikola Jokic (DEN) for most in the NBA for the month.
Trae Young 2018-19: 8.1 2021-22: 9.7 2024-25: 11.6
APG By 2019-20: 9.3 2022-23: 10.2
Season 2020-21: 9.4 2023-24: 10.8
Young became the first to average at least 10 assists for three straight seasons since James Harden (LAC) did it from 2020-23 with Houston Rockets.
Young in 2024-25 set a new singles-season franchise-record with 880 total assists, breaking the record at 824 with an assist to second-year center Mouhamed Gueye in the Hawks’ loss (121-105) Apr. 5, 2025 versus New York Knicks.
While Young averaged at least 20/10 (points & assists) for the third straight season and averaged 20-plus points for sixth straight season, he did average four-plus turnovers for the sixth straight season. He also shot under 45 percent from the floor for the sixth time in his first seven NBA seasons, shooting 41.1 percent from the floor in 2024-25. For the fourth time in his first seven NBA seasons, Young shot below 35 percent on his triple tries, shooting 34 percent from three-point range.
Young for the third time in his career he made over 200 threes (218/642 3-Pt.).
Even with those shooting struggles, Young was able to average 20-plus points again by consistently getting to the foul line averaging for the sixth straight season over seven free throw attempts, averaging 7.4 foul shot attempts in 2024-25.
After a quiet first two seasons in the NBA, Jalen Johnson (18.9 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 5.0 apg, 50 FG%) has made himself into the Hawks second best player over the past two seasons.
Johnson By 2021-22: 2.4 PPG, 1.2 RPG, 53.7 FG%, 23.1 3-Pt.% (3/13 3-Pt.) 22 Games
Season 2022-23: 5.6 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 49.1 FG%, 28.8 3-Pt.% (30/104 3-Pt.) 70 Games
2023-24: 16.0 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 3.6 APG, 51.1 FG%, 35.5 3-Pt% (71/200 3-Pt.)
567 Games
2024-25: 18.9 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 5.0 APG, 1.6 SPG, 50.0 FG%, 31.2 3-Pt.%
(44/141 3-Pt.)
After totaling one double-double his first two seasons, Johnson, the No. 20 overall pick in 2021 out of Duke University has totaled 19 and 20 double-doubles in each of the last two seasons. He totaled at least 0/10/5 (points/rebounds/assists) in 2024-25.
10-Point Games By 2021-22: 2 20-Point Games By 2023-24: 16
Season By Johnson 2022-23: 12 Season By Johnson 2024-25: 18
2023-24: 47
2024-25: 34
In the Hawks’ win (117-116) Nov. 12, 2024 in NBA Emirates Cup Group C play at Boston Celtics, Johnson registered his first career triple-double with 18 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists with three steals on 8/16 shooting-(2/4 3-Pt.).
Three nights later, Johnson totaled 18 points and 13 boards with seven assists and four blocks on 8/15 shooting in the Hawks’ 129-117 win in NBA Cup Group C contest versus Washington Wizards.
Johnson totaled a career-high of 30 points and tied a career-high with 15 rebounds with two steals on 11/16 from the floor and 8/9 at the foul line in the Hawks 141-133 victory Dec. 26, 2024 versus the Chicago Bulls.
What has held the true emergence of Johnson into becoming an All-Star the past two seasons has been injury.
After totaling 70 games in 2021-22, Johnson has missed 26 and 46 games the past two seasons.
A shoulder injury in early December 2024 put Johnson on the shelf to open January 2025 and for five straight games (Jan. 4-15, 2025), and then the final 37 games (Jan. 25-Apr. 13, 2025) because of season-ending surgery on that right shoulder.
Another player that emerged for the Hawks a season ago on both ends was Dyson Daniels (14.1 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 4.4 apg, 3.0 spg-Led NBA, 49.3 FG%, 34 3-Pt.%), who totaled nine of his career double-doubles in 2024-25 on route to winning 2024-25 Kia Most Improved Player, the first Australian in NBA history to win that award and finished runner-up to Evan Mobley of the Cleveland Cavaliers for 2024-25 Kia Defensive Player of the Year by 10 First Place Votes (35-25).
Daniels During A 4-Game Nov. 8, 2024 (122-121) loss @ DET: 18 Points, 7 Steals,
Stretch (Nov. 8-15 2025) 2 Blocks, (7/17 FGs-2/6 3-Pt.)
Nov. 9, 2025 (125-113) Loss Versus CHI: 16 Points, 8 Rebounds
6 Steals (7/15 FGs-0/.3 3-Pt.; 1/4 3-Pt.)
Nov. 12, 2024 (117-116) Win NBA Emirate Cup Win @BOS
28 Points-Career-High, 7 Assists, 6 Steals (12/21 FGs-1/5 3-Pt.
3/5 FTs)
Nov. 15, 2024 (129-117) Win versus WAS: 25 Points, 6 Steals, 2 Blocks (10/14 FGs-2/5 3-Pt.; 3/3 FTs)
Daniels in the Hawks’ 117-104 win Dec. 23, 2024 versus Minnesota Timberwolves had 10 points and a career-high eight steals with four assists and two blocks (4/10 FGs).
Daniels also in 2024-25 led the NBA with 366 deflections and was the first to average three steals per contest in a season since Alvin Robertson (1990-91).
The 229 total steals by the guy dubbed “The Great Barrier Thief” in 2024-25 is the most by a player for a season since the 231 total steals in 1995-96 by Hall of Famer and Kia Defensive Player of the Year for that season in Gary Payton, Sr. for the Seattle Supersonics.
The 22-year-old Daniels became the youngest player in league history to register at least 200 steals in a single season, surpassing Hall of Famer and five-time NBA champion Earvin “Magic” Johnson with the Lakers by 236 days in 1981-82. The last player to have 200 steals in a season prior to Daniels was future Hall of Famer Chris Paul (LAC) with the then New Orleans Hornets (now Pelicans) in 2008-09.
Daniels Total 1-Plus: 73 Games 4-Plus: 28 Games 7-Plus: 3 Games
Steals 2024-25 2-Plus: 59 Games 5-Plus: 15 Games
3-Plus: 45 Games 6-Plus: 7 Games
Daniels became just the eighth player in NBA history to average at least three steals per contest, including the first since Nate McMillan with the Seattle Supersonics (1993-94). Daniels joined Don Bus (twice), Alvin Robertson (twice), Hall of Famers Earvin “Magic” Johnson, and John Stockton, Michael Ray Richardson, and the late Donald Earl “Slick” Watts.
Season Steals
Most Steals Per Game Alvin Robertson 1985-86 3.67
For Single-Season Alvin Robertson 1986-87 3.21
Last 40 Seasons *John Stockton 1988-89 3.21
*Hall Of Famer *Michael Jordan 1987-88 3.16
Dyson Daniels (ATL) 2024-25 3.09
Games 2024-25 Daniels Did Not Register A Steal
Dec. 11, 2024 (108-100) Win NBA Emirates Cup Quarterfinal (ESPN) At NYK: 9 Points, 7 Rebounds, 2 Blocks (4/10 FGs)
Nov. 18, 2024 (109-108) Win At SAC: 14 Points, 8 Rebounds, 4 Assists, 4 Blocks (6/14 FGs-12/5 3-Pt.)
Nov. 20, 2024 (110-97) Loss At GS: 11 Points, 6 Rebounds, 4 Fouls (5/12 FGs)
The No. 8 overall pick 2022 by the Pelicans, who traded Danies to the Hawks in 2023 offseason in exchange for lead guard Dejounte Murray in 2024-25 became the first player since Hall of Famer Michael Jordan (1989-90) with four consecutive games with 15-plus points and five-plus steals and the first since Alvin Robertson with at least six steals in four straight games.
After being primarily a backup his first four NBA seasons, big man Onyeka Okongwu (13.4 ppg, 8.9 rebounds, 56.7 FG%) had a breakout season, where he continued to stretch his marksmanship from three connecting on 32.4 percent of his triple tries (48/148 3-Pt.)
After totaling three double-doubles his first two NBA seasons, the 22-year-old Okongwu, the No,. 6 overall pick in 2020 out of USC totaled 12 (2022-23), eight (2023-24) and a career-best 28 double-doubles (2024-25) in each of the last three seasons.
Okongwu last season started the final 39 games, starting a total of 40 times in 2024-25, with the Hawks going 17-22 in those starts.
20/10 (Points/Rebound) Games By 2020-21: 1 2023-24: 2
Season By Okongwu 2022-23: 1 2024-25: 11
Standout Games In 2024-25 By Onyeka Okongwu
Oct. 23, 2024 (120-116) Win versus BKN: 28 Points, 8 Rebounds, 3 Blocks, 11/12 FGs
6/6 FTs
Jan. 14, 2025 (122-117) Win Versus PHX: 22 Points, 21 Rebounds-Career-High 9/14 FGs (4/5 FTs)
Feb. 5, 2025 (126-125) Loss Versus SA: 30 Points-Career-High, 12 Rebounds, 5 Assists, 13/16 FGs-3/5 3-Pt.
Mar. 8, 2025 (120-118) Win Versus IND: 16 Points, 16 Rebounds, 3 Steals, 3 Blocks, 7/12 FGs
Apr. 6, 2025 (147-134) Win Versus UTA: 27 Points, 12 Rebounds, 12/18 FGs-2/5 3-Pt.
Apr. 8, 2025 (119-112) Loss @ ORL 30 Points-Tied Career-High, 14 Rebounds, 4 Assists, 3 Steals, 9/17 FGs-4/7 3-Pt. 8/8 FTs
While he was a relative unknown when he was selected No. 1 overall in the NBA Draft 2024, Frenchmen Zacchaire Risacher (12.6 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 45.8 FG%, 35.5 3-Pt.%) improved both as a scorer and shooter as last season progressed.
5 International Players Selected Yao Ming* 2002 By HOU
No. 1 Overall NBA History Andrew Bogut 2005 By MIL
*Hall Of Famer Andrea Bargnani 2006 By TOR
Victor Wembanyama 2024 By SA
Zacchaire Risacher 2025 By ATL
Risacher, 20 last season was fifth amongst rookies in scoring at 12.6 and fourth in made threes at 122 (122/344 3-Pt.) in 2024-25.
In the Hawks’ 121-116 victory Nov. 6, 2024 versus the Knicks, Risacher scored a then season-best 33 points with seven rebounds, three steals and two block shots on 11/18 from the field, including 6/10 from three (5/9 FTs).
While they fell to the eventual No. 1 Seed in the East at the Cleveland Cavaliers (137-115) on Jan. 30, 2025 (TNT/TruTV), Risacher in front of a national audience had 30 points with two steals on 11/14 shooting, including 5/6 on his triple tries (3/6 FTs).
Risacher registered his first career double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds (4/15 FGs-3/5 3-Pt.) in the Hawks’ 114-108 loss versus the Orlando Magic.
Risacher’s breakout performance of his rookie season came in the Hawks’ Mar. 30, 2025 victory (145-124) at Bucks with a new season-high of 36 points with six rebounds on 12/21 from the field, including 5/11 from three and 7/9 at the foul line. He became the youngest player (at age 19) in franchise history to score at least 35 points and the fourth No. 1 overall pick in NBA history with a performance of at least 35 points and five made three-pointers, joining Hall of Famer Allen Iverson, LeBron James (LAL), and Anthony Edwards (MIN).
Risacher At 1st Half: 13 Points 5/8 FGs (2/4 FTs)
Bucks 3rd Qtr: 11 Points, 4/6 FGs-3/3 3-Pt.
4th Qtr.: 12 Points, 5 Rebounds, 3/7 FGs-(1/5 3-Pt.) 5/5 FTs
In the Hawks’ (133-109) win at the Nets, Risascher set a new season-high 38 points with two blocks on 15/20 FGs, including 6/11 on his triple tries (2/5 FTs)
When the Hawks were struggling in the middle of last season, they felt there was something missing and made moves to try to get back on track with deals at the Feb. 6, 2025 NBA Trade Deadline.
In a deal with the Cavaliers, the Hawks acquired forward/guard Caris LeVert and sharp-shooting forward Georges Niang, along with 2026 right to swap First-Round picks; 2027 Second-Round pick (via DEN); 2028 right to swap First-Round picks; 2029 and 2031 Second-Round picks in exchange for two-way wing De’Ander Hunter.
In another deal with the Clippers, Hawks acquired forward/guard Terance Mann and guard Na’Shon “Bones” Hyland-who was waived Feb. 7, 2025 and signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves, in exchange for guard Bogdan Bogdanovic; 2025 Second-Round pick (via MIN); 2026 protected Second-Round pick (via MEM); and LAC 2027 Second-Round pick.
The trades by the Hawks also opened up playing time for reserves in guard Vit Krejci (7.2 ppg, 49.7 FG%, 43.7 3-Pt.%-90/206 3-Pt.); forward/center Mouhamed Gueye (6.0 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 42.1 FG%, 25/9 3-Pt.%-21/81 3-Pt.); and rookie Keaton Wallace (5.4 PPG, 2.6 APG, 40.1 FG%, 32.9 3-Pt.%-27/82 3-Pt.).
In 16 starts 2024-25, Krejci averaged 10.6 points and 3.8 boards on 47.3 percent from the floor and 42.2 3-Pt.%.
Krejci had his second career double-double in the Hawks’ 115-110 victory Feb. 7, 2025 versus the Bucks with 11 points and 10 rebounds (4/7 FGs)-going 3/6 from three.
Gueye 2 Career Feb. 7, 2025 (115-110) Win Versus MIL: 15 Points, 12 Rebounds,
Double-Doubles 2 Steaks, 4 Blocks (6/11 FGs-1/5 3-Pt.).
Apr. 11, 2025 (124-110) Win At PHI, 10 Points, 18 Rebounds-Career
High, 3 Steals (4/7 FGs).
In the Hawks’ 110-94 triumph at the Chicago Bulls Jan. 15, 2025, Wallace scored a season-high 27 points with six assists, and six rebounds, and four steals on 10/18 from the field, including 4/7 from three (3/3 FTs).
In the Hawks’ season-finale victory (117-105) versus the Orlando Magic, Wallace had his first career triple-double with 15 points, a season-high 15 assists, 11 rebounds with five steals (7/20 FGs-1/7 3-Pt.).
Last season, the Hawks were No. 14 in field goal percentage (47.2%); No. 18 in three-point percentage (35.8%); No. 14 in threes made per game (13.5); and No. 15 in threes attempted (37.7). While they were No. 4 in free throw attempts (23.2), the Hawks were just No. 18 in free throw percentage (77.5%).
The Hawks last season began 8-0 when they shot 50 percent from the floor or better, finishing 18-6 when they shot 50 percent from the floor or better. They were 21-8 last season when they shot 40 percent or better from three, including 35-34 when they made 10 or more triples; 21-15 when they made 15 or more triples; and 3-1 when they made 20 or more three-pointers.
Hawks Games Nov. 27, 2024 (135-124 ) Win At CLE: 47.4 FG% (46/97 FGs)
2024-25 Made 20/42 3-Pt.
20 Or More
Threes Feb. 23, 2025 (148-143) Loss Versus DET: 50 FG% (48/96 FGs)
21/45 3-Pt.
Mar. 18, 2025 (134-102) Win At CHA: 53.8 FG% (50/93 FGs)
22/45 3-Pt.
Apr. 6, 2025 (147-134) Win Versus UTA: 56.8 FG% (54/95 FGs)-
22/41 3-Pt.
Last season, the Hawks were just 39-36 when they scored 100 points or more. Were 32-2 when they outshot their opponent by field goal percentage. But just 20-19 when they had fewer turnovers than their opponent.
While they ran hot and cold at time from the perimeter offensively a season ago, the Hawks truly made their money in the hustle areas, ranking No. 3 paint points per contest (55.2); No. 6 in fastbreak points (17.2); No. 9 in offensive rebounds per game (11.9) and were No. 12 in Second Chance Points (14.6) and were No. 5 in points off turnovers per game (19.1).
Along with solid production in the hustle areas offensively, the Hawks had a lethal core of reserves ranking No. 4 in bench points per game at 43.6.
What held the Hawks back offensively a season ago was their inability to take care of the ball, ranking No. 26 in turnovers (15.5), which was a big reason why they ranked No. 22 in point per game differential at -1.2.
While the Hawks ranked No. 2 in steals per game (9.7); No. 3 in Second Chance points (16.0), they were in the middle of the pack of the league ranking No. 12 in block shots (5.1) and rebound differential per game (+0.8); and No. 13 in Second Chance Points allowed (13.7), the Hawks ranked in the Bottom 10 in other key defensive statistics.
They were No. 28 in opponent’s field goal percentage and opponent’s three-point percentage at (48.1%) and (37.7%) respectively. Were No. 21 in opponent’s paint points allowed (50.5) and opponent’s fastbreak points (16.5). Ranked No. 26 in opponent’s points off turnovers (19.3).
The Hawks last season registered 47 games with 10 or more steals and six games with 10 or more block shots.
In the Hawks’ 129-117 triumph versus Washington Wizards Nov. 15, 2024, had 10 blocks and 10 steals.
In their 136-107 win at the Raptors, the Hawks had a season-high 22 steals, with 10 of their 22 steals coming in the opening period. They registered a season-high tying 11 block shots in their aforementioned 124-121 victory at the Jazz.
In the Hawks 149-148 double-overtime loss at the Knicks Feb. 12, 2025, they registered 12 steals and 10 blocks. While they shot 50 percent from the floor (55/110 FGs), including 14/38 on their triple tries and outrebounded theKnicks 47-39 (18-8 offensive boards), with 43 assists the Hawks were just 24/35 at the foul line.
While they forced 18 turnovers that they turned into 30 points and were a +13 in fastbreak points (24-11) and a +6 in paint points (78-72), the Hawks allowed 57.4 percent shooting (54/94 FGs) and 11/26 from three and 30/37 at the foul line.
In the Hawks 110-102 setback in the NBA Emirates Cup Semifinals in Las Vegas, NV Dec. 14, 2024 (TNT), the Hawks shot just 42.7 percent from the field (35/82 FGs) and just 10/24 on their triple tries, and 22/34 at the foul line. While they took decent care of the ball with 13 turnovers that led to 14 points, the Hawks only had three steals and forced just 13 Bucks turnovers. They were a -8 in fastbreak points (23-15) and were even in paint points (42-42), and were -3 on the boards (47-44) and just a +1 on the offensive glass (7-6).
Young led the way in defeat with 35 points and 10 assists with seven rebounds on 9/18 from the field, including 35 from three and 14/17 at the charity stripe. Johnson also had a double-double with 15 points and 10 assists, but was just 6/15 shooting, including 0/4 from three and just 3/5 from the foul line. Daniels had 11 points with eight boards and five assists but just a steal (5/10 FGs-0/3 3-Pt.).
The highs and lows the Hawks went through all last season on both ends of the hardwood is how they were just 8-6 in games decided by three points or less and only 20-21 in games decided by 10 points or more. They did compile a solid 29-17 mark when they outrebounded their opposition in 2024-25.
Compiled just an 18-25 mark against teams with a .500 record or better and went 24-17 against sub .500 squads. Went just 10-6 in the Southeast Division and while they were a decent 30-22 against the Eastern Conference last season, the Hawks were an abysmal 10-20 against the Western Conference.
When the Hawks did find consistency on both ends, it allowed them to play from ahead, which is how they compiled a 26-13 mark when they were ahead at intermission (1-2 when tied) in 2024-25 and a 30-4 mark when they led after three quarters (2-0 when tied).
When they were behind at intermission, the Hawks were just 13-27 and just 8-28 when they trailed after three quarters. They also were just 21-20 in clutch games (games within five points in the final five minutes of regulation/overtime) and 2-2 in overtime.
When the Hawks were able to find consistency on both ends, they were able to register eight wins overcoming a double-digit deficit. But they also compiled 13 losses where they blew a lead of at least 10 points a season ago.
With their first crack at making the Playoffs after a two-year absence, the Hawks were blasted at the Magic 120-95 in the No. 8 versus No. 7 SoFi NBA East Play-In contest Apr. 15, 2025 (TNT).
After an early four-point lead, the Hawks were down 32-17 after the first quarter and 61-47 at intermission, where they trailed by as many as 22 in the first half. They outscored the Magic 26-18 in the third quarter to close within 79-73 after three quarters. But were outscored 41-22 in the fourth quarter, where they trailed by as many as 29.
Young, who averaged 30 points and 11.5 assists in playing two of the four games in the regular season series against the Magic, struggled en route 28 points and just six helpers. While he was 11/12 at the charity stripe, Young was just 8/21 from the floor overall and just 1/5 on his triple tries. Young’s night of frustration reached a boiling point when he was tossed after picking up his second technical foul with 4:47 left in the contest.
Daniels was also held in check, scoring just seven points, with 12 boards, seven assists and two blocks on just 3/8 shooting.
In the four-game season series where they registered at least 105 points, the Hawks in this tussle with the boys from “Disneyland” shot just 38.1 percent from the floor (32/84 FGs) and were just 4/21 from three, though they did manage to go 27/34 at the foul line. They had just 22 assists but only eight turnovers. But were outrebounded 54-42 and were outscored 58-32 in the paint.
In their final crack at making the Playoffs three nights later, the Hawks shook off a slow start but eventually fell in overtime 123-114 in the SoFi East No. 8 Play-In versus the Miami Heat (TNT) to miss out on the Playoffs for a second straight spring.
After falling behind by 10 in the opening period to trail 33-24 after the first quarter, trailing by as many as 17 in the opening half and 62-53 at intermission, and 86-77 after three quarters, the Hawks opened the final period with a 21-6 scoring run capped by a fastbreak dunk by Okongwu to take a 98-92 lead. They were outscored by the visitors from “South Beach” 14-6 to fall behind 106-104. Young evened matters with a driving layup for a 106-106 tie and forced overtime. In the extra period however, the Hawks were outscored 17-8 to fall at home and have their season come to a crashing conclusion.
Young led the way in defeat again with 29 points and 11 assists with five boards but shot just 9/22 from the field, including 4/9 from three and 7/8 at the charity stripe.
It was another nightmarish performance by Young against the Heat, where during the four-game season series against the boys from “South Beach” averaged just 17 points with 12.3 assists on just 35 percent from the floor (21/60 FGs) and 26.5 percent on his triple tries (9/34 3-Pt.).
Okongwu played well with a double-double of his own of 28 points and 12 rebounds with three steals on 12/19 shooting, including 4/8 from three. Daniels also had a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds with three steals, but was just 5/13 from the floor.
Risacher in his first true due-or-die contest of his young NBA career struggled with just three points on 1/11 from the field, including 0/7 from three. Gueye also had just three points and two boards (1/3 FGs).
The Hawks shot just 43.1 percent from the field (44/102 FGs)-going just 16/47 on their triple tries and just 10/11 at the foul line. While the Hawks had 30 assists compared to just 10 turnovers, the Heat scored 18 points off those Hawks miscues despite giving up 21 points off of their 15 turnovers, with 12 of them courtesy of Hawks steals. The Hawks in the contest also outscored the Heat 56-48 in the paint and 22-14 in fastbreak points. The Hawks however were out rebounded 54-44, including 13-11 on the offensive glass, getting outscored 13-11 Second Chance Points.
Hawks Bench Regular-Season After Feb. 6, 2025 NBA Trade Deadline: 45.9 PPG; +8.7
2024-25 PPG Differential; 50 FG%; 40 3-Pt.%
Play-In Loss @ ORL: 30 Bench Points; -27 Point Differential (57-30)
9/30 FGs-1/8 3-Pt.
Play-In Loss Versus MIA: 40 Points; +1 Point Differential (41-40)
47 FG%-6/19 3-Pt.
Hawks During Their Four Straight Appearances In Play-In Tournament
2022: Won No. 7 versus No. 8 Game (132-103) Versus CHA
Won No. 8 Play-In @ CLE To Make the Playoffs; Lost First-Round 4-1 To MIA
2023: Won No. 8 versus No. 7 Game (116-105) @ MIA To Clinch No. 7 Seed East;
Lost First-Round 4-1 To BOS
2024: Lost No. 10 versus No. 9 Play-In Game (131-116) @ CHI; Missed Playoffs For
For First Time Since Three-Year Drought (2017-2020)
2025: Lost No. 8 versus No. 7 Play-In Game (120-95) @ ORL;
Lost No. 8 Play-In Game (123-114) In Overtime Versus MIA
Hawks are the fourth team in the short-lived NBA Play-In Tournament (2021) to suffer multiple defeats in the same season.
Since reaching the East Finals in the spring of 2021, where they lost to the eventual NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks 4-2, the Hawks now missed the Playoffs following two more appearances for as mentioned two straight seasons.
After another disappointing finish, the Hawks felt a change was needed at the top. On April 21, 2025, the Hawks fired General Manager Landry Field and in early June 2025 hired former New Orleans Pelicans GM Bryson Graham as their new Senior Vice President of Basketball Operations. They also hired former Philadelphia 76ers Executive Peter Dinwiddie as their Senior Vice President of strategy and analytics, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Both new hires to the Hawks front office will report to relatively new GM Onsi Saleh, who prior to joining the Hawks in 2024 spent the previous three seasons as an executive in the Warriors front office, where he rose to the titles of Vice President of Basketball Strategy and Team Counsel. He has also worked for five seasons with the Spurs, where he finished his tenure there as their Director of Strategy & Process/Chief of Staff.
Back in late June’s NBA Draft, the Hawks dealt the draft rights to Power Forward/Center Derik Queen (No. 13 overall pick) out of University of Maryland and Shooting Guard/Small Forward Drake Powell.
Queen draft rights were dealt to the Pelicans in exchange for Power Forward Asa Newell (No. 23 overall pick) out of University of Georgia and a 2026 unprotected and most favorable First-Round pick from the Pelicans or Bucks.
In early July, the Hawks took part in an NBA-record seven-team deal where perennial All-Star and two-time Finals MVP Kevin Durant was dealt to the Houston Rockets. In the mammoth trade, the Hawks acquired journeyman forward David Roddy, who was waived a little over 24 hours later; the rights to swap 2031 Second-Round pick with Rockets and $85,300 in cash.
The Hawks also in the deal sent to the Phoenix Suns two-way Shooting Guard/Small Forward Daeqwon Plowden.
To balance out the roster even more, the Hawks in a three-team deal with the Celtics and Brooklyn Nets that also took place on July 6, 2025 acquired All-Star and NBA champion center Kristaps Porzingis (19.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 1.5 bpg 48.3 FG%, 41.2 3-Pt.% 42 Games W/BOS) along with a 2026 Second-Round pick, dealing sharp-shooting Power Forward Georges Niang; a 2031 Cavaliers Second-Round pick and $1,100,000 cash from the Brooklyn Nets. The Nets in the deal acquired the draft rights to Powell and veteran swingman Terance Mann.
In a sign-and-trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves also on July 6, 2025, the Hawks acquired two-way stallworth Nickeil Alexander-Walker (9.4 ppg, 43.8 FG%, 38.1 3-Pt.%) on a four-year, $62 million deal in exchange for Cavaliers 2027 Second-Round pick and $1,500,000 in cash.
Two days later, the Hawks added one of the most accurate shooters in the league signing Shooting Guard Luke Kennard (8.9 ppg, 47.8 FG%, 43.3 3-Pt.% 65 Games W/MEM) on a one-year, $11 million deal.
On August 18 and 19, 2025, the Hawks signed center N’Faly Dante on two-year, $4.4 million deal and Small Forward Caleb Houstan on a one-year, $2.4 million deal.
The additions of Porzingis, Alexander-Walker, and Kennard provide the Hawks with more perimeter shooting and solid defenders on the perimeter in terms of Alexander-Walker and Kennard and in the paint from Porzingis.
Seasons Alexander-Walker 2021-22 W/NOP & UTA 31.1 3-Pt.% (105/338 3-Pt.)
Made Over 100 3-Pt. 2023-24 W/MIN 39.1 3-Pt.% (131/335 3-Pt.)
2024-25 W/MIN 38.1 3-Pt.% (141/370 3-Pt.)
In the Wolves victory (93-92) NBA Emirates Cup Group Contest versus Los Angeles Clippers (ESPN), Alexander-Walker had 12 points, 10 rebounds, and two steals (4/10 FGs-2.6 3-Pt.) for his third career double-double.
In speaking at Media Day on Oct. 1, 2025, the man affectionately called NAW said joining the Hawks via trade was the result of having “a few good talks with Trae,” conversing with his agent, a few prayers that the situation at hand from the acquisition of Porzingis and the departure of Terance Mann that there was “room” where he can fill the roles of being the Hawks’ main defending of the opposing team’s best perimeter player. Be a “playmaker” both “on ball" and “off ball.”
“Versatility has been my thing,” Alexander-Walker added. “But, also wanted to be in an area where I can contribute to winning and grow in a role where as a player I can have more opportunity on and off the ball. Defensively and offensively to be a leader on both sides and felt like Atlanta just kind of checked every box for me.
Whether he was with the Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Clippers or the Memphis Grizzlies, Kennard has been able to do one thing since coming into the NBA out of Duke University in 2017, shoot the ball and shoot it well, especially from three-point range, where he has connected on 40-plus percent of his triple tries in six out of his first eight seasons.
Along with being a knock down shooter, Kennard has improved as a playmaker, averaging 3.5 and 3.3 assists the last two seasons in Memphis.
“Just the confidence with the ball in my hands. Playmaking abilities. Each team I’ve been on, you know, I’ve had opportunities to have the ball in my hands at certain times whether that was because of injuries or just anything like that. But I’m definitely confident with the ball in my hands,” Kennard said at Media Day about being a playmaker.
“I know coming in here playing with guys that can really pass and can control the offense. I do want to be that knockdown shooter for this team. But at the same time, you know, just showcasing what I can do with the ball. Making plays and controlling the offense a little bit. So, I’m excited about it, you know? I’m excited to play with this group of guys and it should be fun.”
Porzingis Seasons 2016-17 W/NYK 35.7 3-Pt.% (112/314 3-Pt.)
With Over 100 2019-20 W/DAL 35.2 3-Pt.% (142/403 3-Pt.)
Made Three-Pointers 2022-23 W/WAS 38.5 3-Pt.% (137/356 3-Pt.)
2023-24 W/BOS 37.5 3-Pt.% (110/293 3-Pt.)
2024-25 W/BOS 41.2 3-Pt.% (103/250 3-Pt.
Porzingis in 2024-25 with the Celtics shot a career-high 41.2 percent on his triple tries on a career-best six three-point attempts, while also hitting 80.9 percent of his free throws on 4.7 attempts. Last season also represented the fifth season out of his first nine in the league where he averaged over 4.5 free throw attempts while also registering his eighth season with over 4.8 three-point attempts.
Porzingis Seasons 2016-17 W/NYK 35.7 3-Pt.% (112/314 3-Pt.)
With Over 100 2019-20 W/DAL 35.2 3-Pt.% (142/403 3-Pt.)
Made Three-Pointers 2022-23 W/WAS 38.5 3-Pt.% (137/356 3-Pt.)
2023-24 W/BOS 37.5 3-Pt.% (110/293 3-Pt.)
2024-25 W/BOS 41.2 3-Pt.% (103/250 3-Pt.)
The only issue with Porzingis throughout his nearly decade of service in the NBA has been staying healthy, and that was also the case last season where he missed 40 games. He was absent for the first 17 games of last season recovering from surgery on his in the 2025 postseason, Porzingis in 11 games (7 starts) averaged just 7.7 points and 4.6 boards on just 31.6 percent from the floor (25/79 FGs), 15.4 percent on his triple tries (4/26 3-Pt.), and just 68.9 percent of his free throws (31/45 FTs).
While his stats were also underwhelming in the 2024 Playoffs where he averaged 12.3 points and 4.4 rebounds, Porzingis did average in those seven games 1.6 block shots and shot 46.7 percent from the floor 34.5 percent from three (10/29 3-Pt.) in helping the C’s capture their 18th title banner in the Celtics storied 75 year history.
At Media Day, Porzingis said that it is “important” for the Hawks as they begin this journey to where they are hopefully playing deep into the spring of 2026 that they go “step by step.” Playing “one possession” at a time. “One quarter” at a time. “One game at a time.”
“I know it’s like a cliche to say this but it’s true,” Porzingis also said. “That’s how we won in Boston and it’s just one day at a time, you know? Of course we want to have the highest goals here. But it’s going to be a big process. Also me coming into this team to learn all these guys. To get into a groove with this team. But I look forward to it. I think we have a great opportunity in front of us and we just have to take it one day at a time.”
When Porzingis has been healthy whether for the New York Knicks, Dallas Mavericks, Washington Wizards or Boston Celtics, he has shown to be a two-way force.
Celtics W/Porzingis W/O Porzingis
2024-25 30-12 W-L 31-9
115.8 PPG 116.8
26.7 APG 25.6
36.8% 3-Pt.% 36.9%
46.2% FG% 46.3%
As important as Porzingis, Kennard, Alexander-Walker will be to the Hawks success this upcoming season, their hopes for another magic carpet ride that they had in the Playoffs in 2021 will rise or fall on the shoulders of Young, Johnson, and Daniels.
Johnson has flashed moments of brilliance on the hardwood the past couple of seasons as a scorer, rebounder and improved as a facilitator. The main thing for him is to stay healthy so those flashes of brilliance on the hardwood become more consistent and in turn will improve the consistency of the Hawks.
At Media Day, Johnson said he “goes into every offseason” to build up as much strength into his body as much as possible. It was not much different this offseason even this offseason had its challenges with the shoulder surgery. But Johnson said he tries to “stay consistent” with the regiment getting ready for the season and he “looking forward” to getting back on the court again.
Johnson added that in this training camp is different in this training camp compared to past ones is that “everybody’s hungry.” That a lot of the roster came into Atlanta early before the start of camp and that there is an understanding that they do not want to be in a “tough position” in terms of getting off to a rough start to the season, or if they have a slow start record wise having to play catch up.
“We just want to continue to work everyday and get better. So, everybody had that mindset. So, it’s been refreshing to see that. It’s been refreshing to see the new guys come in with that same mindset. So, I think it’ll be easy.”
One player that will come into this season motivated in more ways than one to lead the Hawks back to prominence is Trae Young.
In a summer where certain players got new deals, Young was left out in the cold as a new 4-year, $229 million dollar deal never came to fruition for Young.
There are two realities to this. The Hawks did not offer the franchise’s third most important player, and their best since Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins and fellow Hall of Famer Bob Pettit, who led the Hawks to their lone NBA Title in 1958 in St. Louis, MO.
While by the numbers, Young has earned that contract extension. That said, the Hawks in those first seven seasons in the league, they have not won just two playoff series, both in 2021.
The Hawks aforementioned front office feels that if they are going to make a serious financial commitment to Young, they want to know they will have postseason success if that is the case. This means Young has to show he can raise his game to a level where he is more efficient in terms of his shooting accuracy, especially from three to go along with his playmaking. But also, the Hawks front office wants to see if Young can grow to being the kind of leader that can raise the level of the rest of the roster.
“As high as he [Coach Snyder] wants to set the bar for me, I want to set it even higher,” Young said about his evolution as a player entering this season.
“For me, I’m excited about this team, this group. As so, for me, the leadership part, it’s just taking it one day at a time. Obviously, we have a lot of new pieces and new guys on our team can bring a different type of experience to our team. And so, for me being the leader that I need as far as-we’re still a young team. I think we’re one of Top 3, Top 5 youngest teams still. So, we still got a long way to go as far as making sure we’re together on the same page and all that stuff. So, that’s a day-by-day step…Not looking too far ahead. Making sure that I’m present with our team and making sure that we’re focused each day to take care of business for the next one.”
When asked about the disappointment of not getting a contract extension, Young said about that at Media Day, “maybe.”
“For me, I’m more happy about the team we have going into this season. For me, I’m blessed. I wasn’t stressed about anything. If something happened, it happened. If it didn’t, I mean, I still got, you know time. Obviously, everybody knows of my situation is going into the future. So for me, I’m focused on this team. I’m focused on right now. I’ve got a great team going into this season. One that you can’t really say I’ve had. So, I’m even more excited about that. And so, who knows what the future is for me? But right now, I’m here and I’m present like me and Coach [Snyder] have been talking about. So, I’m excited about it and I’m ready to go.”
Over the course of the past four-plus decades, the Atlanta Hawks have had teams with a star headliner they had a case of being a team that can contend.
In the 1988 East Semis, they had the mighty Celtics on the ropes. But they failed to close them out in Game 6 at home and now Hall of Famer Larry Bird out dueled fellow Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins.
While Wilkins won the scoring battle 47-34, it was Bird that would have the final say scoring 20 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter to capture Game 7.
The 1990s Hawks squads (1994, 1997, and 1999) led by the likes of Mookie Blaylock, Stacey Augmon, Steve Smith, Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo and fellow Hall of Fame Head Coach Lenny Wilkins got denied in the postseason by the Pacers led by Hall of Famer Reggie Miller in 1994 East Semis and the 1995 opening-round; the then the Magic in 1996 East Semis led by Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal and perennial All-Star Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway in 1996 East Semis. Then they ran into the Hall of Fame quartet of Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, and Head Coach Phil Jackson, falling in five games in the 1997 East Semis.
Two years later, the Hawks were dominated in the 1999 East Semis where they fell to the No. 8 Seeded Knicks in a four-game sweep.
The Highlight Factory Hawks squads led by Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, Al Horford, and Marvin Williams in the late 2000s never got further than the East Semis in 2009 to the LeBron James led Cavaliers; the Hall of Fame Dwight Howard led Magic 4-0 in 2010 East Semis; and were taken out one year later in the 2011 East Semis by the league’s MVP that season in the Derrick Rose led Bulls 4-2.
Four years later, the Hawks led by then head coach Mike Budenholzer and All-Star quartet in Horford, Kyle Korver, Paul Millsap, and Jeff Teague registered an Eastern Conference-best 60 wins but were swept in the East Finals to the James and the Cavaliers again 4-0.
The Hawks have been here before where they have had a team that can contend and came up short. They also have been in the scenario where they have a superstar that was believed to take them to the promised land in the aforementioned Dominique Wilkins, who was dealt during the 1994 season to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for fellow All-Star Danny Manning.
The Hawks are in this position again with Trae Young at the end of this season if things do not work, he could opt out of his deal and become an unrestricted free agent.
The difference though compared to seasons past, the Hawks can pivot and build around the likes of Zacchaire Risacher, Jalen Johnson, and Asa Newell.
If the Hawks can play to the level where they can rise to the level where they are a threat to the likes of the Cavaliers and Knicks in the East, there could be a title possibly in their future.
It all depends on how quickly Head Coach Quin Snyder and his coaching staff of Bryan Bailey, Mike Brey, Brittini Donaldson, Steve Klei, Igor Kokoskov, Antonio Lang, Sanjayu Lumpkin, and Ronald Nored, Ekpe Udo, Reggis Onwukamuche, Ryan Schmidt, and Jeff Watkinson can build this talented Hawks group into a cohesive, connected, and determined group on both ends.
“We’ve got a number of new players on this team, which really provides us with an opportunity to grow,” Coach Snyder, who is entering his third season with the Hawks (86-99 record) and is 458-363 in his 11-year coaching career with the Utah Jazz and Hawks
“It’s going to take some time for us to integrate everybody. That also can be an exciting process….We’re the third youngest team in the league. I think Charlotte [Hornets] and Brooklyn [Nets] are younger than us. And to me that really speaks to this same opportunity that we have, you know, with our new players. So, that can be something that I think from the beginning that we embrace. And it gets back to working hard, you know. We can be patient and still be urgent. ”
Best Case Scenario: The Hawks win 45 to 50-plus games and are competing for homecourt advantage in the East. Young earns his third straight All-Star selection and fifth of his career. Johnson is a borderline All-Star. Porzingis is healthy and is a major force on both ends of the hardwood. The Hawks are a Top 15 offense and defense along with a Top 10 scoring bench. They play a compelling opening-round series.
Worst Case Scenario: The Hawks are fighting to make the playoffs through the SoFi Play-In Tournament again. Their defensive struggles continue. Young’s shooting ineffectiveness continues while also continuing to be a traffic cone defensively. There is the possibility they trade Young and remove the thought of having to extend him
Grade: A
Boston Celtics: 61-21 (1st Atlantic Division; No. 2 Seed in East); 28-13 at home; 33-8 on the road; (3-1 NBA Emirates Cup); Defeated the No. 7 Seeded Orlando Magic 4-1 in East Quarterfinals; Lost to No. 3 Seeded New York Knicks 4-2 in East Semifinals.
116.3 PPG-8th; 107.2 Opp PPG-2nd; 45.3 RPG-8th
Head Coach Joe Mazzulla is entering his fourth season with the Celtics. Has a 182-64 regular-season record (.740 win%-NBA-Record); 33-17 Record (.660 Win%) In Playoffs Games
Entering 2024-25 off the high of winning championship No. 18 in franchise history, including their first since 2007-08 NBA campaign, the Boston Celtics behind compiling not only the best road mark in franchise history and one of the best road marks for a season in NBA history, they seemed well on their way to a second straight title. But one moment in the East Semis at their longtime division and conference rival changed everything. They not only lost the series as well as saw their reign as NBA champion end but it brought some serious roster maneuvering. As they enter 2025-26, the goal of the Celtics is to reach Playoffs with the challenge of being able to live up to the same expectations with new players on the roster around their other All-Star headliner and 2024 Finals MVP who enters this season on a mission to prove he can carry the Celtics on both ends.
The Celtics in 2024-25 compiled their second straight season of 60-plus victories, and their fourth straight season with at least 57 wins. This was ignited by a 16-3 start, going 19-4 over their first 23 games and were 21-5 their first 26 outings.
Celtics Win Streaks Open Matters 4-0 (Oct. 22-28, 2024)
Compiled In 19-4 Start 3-Gamer (Nov. 1-4, 2024; Dec. 206, 2024);
To 2024-25 2-Gamer (Nov. 8-10, 2024); 7-Gamer (Nov. 16-29, 2024)
Coach Mazzulla’s squad cooled off though following their 16-3 start by going 8-6 Dec. 2024 and 10-6 Jan. 2025.
With a very road heavy schedule in February (more on that later), the Celtics regained their footing with an 8-3 mark, which included a six-game win streak (Feb. -25, 2025) and while they concluded the month with two straight defeats, the C’s would be 42-16 (No. 2 In East) entering the home stretch of the regular season.
That home stretch consisted of an East-best 14-1 mark in March 2025, which included a five-game winning streak to open matters (Mar. 2-10, 2025) and a season-high nine-game winning streak to close the month (Mar. 14-31, 2025).
The Celtics closed out 2024-25 with a 5-2 mark in April, 2025, with a three-game win streak (Apr. 4-8, 2025) and ended things even with some of their key members of the playing rotation getting rest with a two-game win streak (Apr. 11-13, 2025).
The Celtics closed out the 2024-25 going 42-16 following their 19-4 start to be 61-21, registering their 11th straight postseason appearance, the longest active such streak in “The Association.” They also registered their 15th 60-plus win season in their history, the most in NBA history and four more than their longtime arch-rivals the Los Angeles Lakers with 11 60-plus win seasons.
The Celtics compiled another incredible season by their remarkable play away from TD Garden registering a single-season franchise-record 33 road victories.
Seasons With 30-Plus Road 1972-73: 32 *2007-08: 31
Wins In Celtics History 1974-75: 32 2024-25: 33
* Won Title
Best All-Time Road Win% Road Record Win%
In A Season In Celtics History 2024-25 33-8 .804
1972-73 32-8 .800
1974-75 32-9 .780
Best Road Win% Season Record Win% Won Title
NBA History (Top 3) Warriors 2015-16 34-7 .829 No
Lakers 1971-72 31-7 .816 Yes
Bulls 1995-96 33-8 .805 Yes
Celtics 2024-25 33-8 .805 No
Most Road Wins In A Season Road Wins Won Title
Season NBA History Warriors 2015-16 34 No
(Top 7) Bulls 1995-96 33 Yes
Celtics 2024-25 33 No
Suns 2021-22 32 No
Heat 1996-97 32 No
Celtics 1974-75 32 No
Celtics 1972-73 32 No
The Celtics opened 2024-25 winning 19 out of their first 25 away from home, their third best start on the road in a season in their history.
It began with a 24-7 mark over their first 31 games on the road, which tied the eventual NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder for the second best road mark in “The Association” trailing only 25-6 mark by the Cleveland Cavaliers on the road.
The Celtics closed 2024-25 by going 8-1 their last nine; 16-2 their last 18 and 18-3 their last 21 games on the road.
Their .805 winning percentage away from TD Garden set a new single-season franchise record and those 33 road wins in 2024-25 also set a new single-season franchise record, surpassing the 32 road wins set in the 1972-73 and 1974-75 seasons, when they were led by Hall of Famers in the late Head Coach and longtime TV broadcaster Tom Heinsohn and the late John Havlicek, and Jo Jo White, and Dave Cowens.
The Celtics 18-3 mark to close 2024-25 on the road included an eight-game road win streak (Mar. 14-31, 2025), with a 6-0 mark during 10-day West Coast road trip (Mar. 21-31, 2025) where they won each game by double-digits, by an average of 17.8 points.
Celtics Six-Game Won Mar. 21 2025 (121-99) @ UTA West Coast Road Won Mar. 23, 2025 (129-116) @ POR Trip Won Mar. 24, 2025 (113-95) Won Mar. 26, 2025 (132-102) @ PHX (ESPN) Won Mar. 29, 2025 (121-111) @ SA Won Mar. 31, 2025 (117-103) @ MEM (TNT)
While they opened 2024-25 with a 9-2 mark at home, the Celtics were not as dominant at home as they were the previous two seasons going 37-4 and 32-9 the past two seasons (2022-23 & 2023-24 respectably) at TD Garden. Inside their 19-11 mark following that 9-2 start at home, the Celtics closed with a 5-1 mark their final six; 10-2 their last 12 and 12-3 their final 15 games at home, to be 28-13 at TD Garden, the seventh best home record in the league for 2024-25.
The Celtics stellar 2024-25 also included a 14-2 against the Atlantic Division; 39-13 against the Eastern Conference and 22-8 against the Western Conference. They also went a solid 39-8 against sub .500 teams and a decent 25-12 against teams with a .500 or better.
For the seventh straight season, the Celtics were led by their dynamic perennial All-Star duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, affectionately called “The J’s,” who for the sixth straight season each averaged 20-plus points.
Tatum (26.8 ppg-5th NBA, 8.7 rpg, 6 apg-career-high, 45.2 FG%, 34.3 3-Pt.%) put together another spectacular season averaging 25-plus points for the fifth consecutive season and over 23 points for the six straight seasons.
This along with the other stellar stats he registered earned Tatum his sixth consecutive All-Star selection, including his third in a row as a starter. He also achieved his fifth career All-NBA selection, including his fourth consecutive as an First-Teamer (3rd Team All-NBA 2019-20).
The stellar scoring consistency by Tatum is a result of him blending his continued improvement as a three-point shooter, while also being able to get to the foul line consistently as well, averaging 10.1 three-point attempts and 6.1 free throw attempts per contest in 2024-25.
He also continued to progress as an all-around player averaging over eight boards for the fourth straight season and over seven rebounds for the six consecutive seasons.
Tatum in 2024-25 posted his fifth consecutive season averaging 23/7/4 (points/rebounds/assists).
This has led him to post seasons 10, 15, 22, 31, 25, and 31 double-doubles in each of the past six seasons (2019-25) after registering four and eight double-doubles respectively in each of his first two NBA seasons (2017-29). Tatum also turned in two of his four career triple-doubles in 2024-25.
In the Celtics 123-96 triumph Dec. 21, 2024 at the Chicago Bulls, Tatum posted a then season-high of 43 points with 15 rebounds and 10 assists (16/24 FGs-9/15 3-Pt.). Also on this night, he became just the fifth player in NBA history to register 40/15/10/5 (points/rebounds/assists/made three-pointers), joining James Harden (LAC) who did this twice; DeMarcus Cousins, Russell Westbrook (SAC), and Hall of Famer Vince Carter.
Tatum also with this performance became the first Celtic to register a 40/15/10 triple-double and joined Hall of Famer Larry Bird as the only players in the storied history of the Celtics to have a 40-plus point triple-double.
The man dubbed “JT” had a near triple-double with a new season-high of 46 points with 16 rebounds and nine assists with three block shots (19/37 FGs-4/12 3-Pt.; 4/5 FTs) in the Celtics 123-116 loss Feb. 28, 2025 (ESPN). In the opening half of their setback, Tatum had 30 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, becoming the first in the play-by-play era of the NBA (1997-98) to have that stat line.
In front of a national television audience on Mar. 8, 2025 (ABC), Tatum scored 40 points with 12 rebounds, and eight assists, with two steals (12/28 FGs-6/16 3-Pt.), going 10/12 at the charity stripe in the Celtics 111-101 win versus the archrival Lakers.
Jayson Tatum Also 2024-25
28 30-Plus Point Games-3rd Most In A Season Of His Career & 3rd NBA 2024-25
16 30-Plus Point Double-Doubles & 7 Point/Assist Double-Doubles.
Had Four 40-Plus Point Games In 2024-25.
1 of 4 Players In NBA 2024-25 To Average 25/8/5 (Points/Rebounds/Assists): Nikola Jokic (DEN); Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL); Luka Doncic (DAL/LAL).
Became Just Fifth In Celtics History To Average 25/5/5 (Points/Rebounds/Assists) For A
Season-Joining Hall of Famers John Havlicek (1970-71 & 1971-72) & Larry Bird (1984-85 & 1987-88).
Became Just The Third Player In NBA History To Before Age 27 Register 13,000 Points and 4,000 Rebounds: Joining The Late Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlin and LeBron James (LAL).
Brown (22.2 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 4.5 apg, 46.3 FG%, 32.4 3-Pt.%) had another stellar season as well, where he showed that the Celtics made the right decision in paying him the richest contract in NBA history last summer signing him to a five-year, $304 million extension.
Like Tatum, Brown, who earned his third straight All-Star selection and fourth of his career (2021, 2023-25) all coming in the past five seasons continued his improvement as an all-around player in terms of his offensive output registering for the seven seasons out of his first nine in the NBA with over 4.4 threes attempted (5.7 2024-25) and over 5.5 foul shot attempts (5.1 2024-25).
For the sixth straight season (2019-25), Brown averaged over five three-point attempts, which includes three straight seasons averaging over seven triple attempts (2020-23). He also for the seven seasons of his career made 110-plus triples.
Brown’s Seasons Making 3-Pt. 3-Pt.%
Making Over 115 3-Pt. 2021-22 166/464 35.8%
2022-23 163/487 33.5%
2020-21 163-411 39.7%
2023-24 145/410 35.4%
2019-20 129/338 38.2%
2017-18 121/306 39.5%
2024-25 116/358 32.4%
While the three-point volume ticked down slightly the past two seasons, Brown’s free throw attempts ticked up averaging over five in two out of the last three seasons.
In terms of the rest of his all-around play, Brown has continued to progress there as well in terms of his rebound and facilitation.
After totaling four double-doubles (two each 2017-18 & 2018-19) in his first two NBA seasons, Brown has totaled at least five double-doubles in each of the last seven seasons (8 in 2019-20; 10 in 2020-21; 11 in 2021-22; 13 in 2022-23; 6 in 2023-24) including reaching that mark in 2024-25.
Jaylen Brown’s Double-Doubles In 2024-25
Oct. 26, 2024 (124-118) Win @ DET: 24 Points, 10 Rebounds, 5 Assists (6/24 FGs-3/9 3-Pt.)
9/19 FTs.
Nov. 13, 2024 (139-114) Win @ BKN: 24 Points, 12 Rebounds, (8/19 FGs-⅖ 3-Pt.; 6/9 FTs).
Nov. 22, 2024 (108-96) Win @ WAS: 31 Points, 11 Rebounds, 5 Assists (11/27 FGS-3/13 3-Pt.; 6/8 FTs).
Jan. 18, 2025 (119-115) OT Loss Versus ATL: 24 Points, 11 Rebounds, 8 Assists, 2 Steals
(9/27 FGs-2/9 3-Pt.; 4/5 FTs).
Feb. 2, 2025 (118-110) Win @ PHI (ESPN): 21 Points, 10 Rebounds, 6 Assists (9/17 FGs-2/7 3-Pt.).
Last season, Brown also totaled nine games of 30-plus points, which included a season-high 44 points with five boards and four steals (16/24 FGs-6/11 3-Pt.; 6/6 FTs) in the Celtics 142-105 victory Dec. 27, 2024 versus Indiana Pacers. This performance also was the 11th career 40-plus point game.
The only issue for Brown in 2024-25 was missing 19 games, with 12 of those 19 games missed after Feb. 10, 2025 mainly due to a sore right knee. He also missed time due to a hip flexor strain and a sore right shoulder.
Celtics In 53-19 W/Tatum (8-2 W/O Tatum)
2024-25 46-17 W/Brown (15-4 W/O Brown)
What helped the Celtics maintain a high-win pace when they were without either Tatum or Brown for a couple of games in 2024-25 is because of their stellar supporting cast.
This included Derrick White (16.4 ppg-career-high, 452 rpg-career-high, 4.8 apg, 44.2 FG%, 38.4 3-Pt.%), who has been one of the best utility players in the league, who can score, facilitate, and make shots, especially from three, and defend some of the most prolific offensive perimeter players in the league.
He made the Celtics look like pure geniuses when they re-signed White to a four-year, $125 million deal.
Over his first five seasons in the league, White, a two-time All Defensive Second-Teamer (2023 & 2024) had yet to total two double-doubles. In his three full seasons in “Beantown” White has registered seven (2022-23-career-high), five (2023-24) and four double-doubles (2024-25).
Derrick White 3-Pt. 3-Pt.%
3-Pt. Last 2021-22 W/SA & BOS 115/369 31.2%
Four Seasons 2022-23 W/BOS 149/391 38.1%
2023-24 W/BOS 196/495 39.6%
2024-25 W/BOS 265/391 38.4%
In the Celtics’ aforementioned 117-103 win at the Grizzlies at the end of March 2025, White had a near triple-double with 14 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds with two blocks (4/13 FGs-3/11 3-Pt.; 3/3 FTs) reached 246 made threes on the season, setting a new single-season record.
Most Made Three-Pointers In A Season By A Player In Celtics History
Season 3-Pt.
Derrick White 2024-25 265/691
Payton Pritchard 2024-25 255/626
Jayson Tatum 2024-25 250/728
Isaiah Thomas 2016-17 245/646
Jayson Tatum 2022-23 240/686
Jayson Tatum 2021-22 230/651
Jayson Tatum 2023-24 229/609
Antoine Walker 2001-02 222/645
Antoine Walker 2000-01 221/603
Paul Pierce* 2001-02 210/520
In the Celtics’ 124-104 victory Feb. 20, 2025 at the Philadelphia 76ers, White had 16 points and 10 assists (5/10 FGs-3/7 3-Pt.; 3/3 FTs).
White also had another double-double with 18 points and 10 assists with five boards, and three block shots (6/16 FGs-3/11 3-Pt.; 3/3 FTs) in the Celtics 114-108 win Mar. 10, 2025 versus Utah Jazz.
After being a relative unknown over his first three seasons with the Celtics, reserve guard Payton Pritchard (14.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 3.5 apg, 47.2 FG%, 40.7 3-Pt.%) found his footing over the past two seasons, authoring back-to-back career seasons, culminating in him winning Kia Sixth Man of the Year in 2024-25.
Celtics To Win Kia *Kevin McHale 1983-84 & 1984-85
Sixth Man of the Year *Bill Walton 1985-86
*Hall of Famer Malcolm Brogdon 2022-23
Payton Pritchard 2024-25
Payton Pritchard’s NBA Rank
Bench Ranks 2024-25 1,079 Points 1st
246 Made 3-Pt. 1st
25 Assists 3rd
28.1 MPG 7th
24 20-Plus Point Games 1st
Only T.J. McConnell (IND: 348) and Scoot Henderson (POR: 270) had more total assists in 2024-25 off the bench than the 257 by Pritchard.
After totaling one double-double (2022-23) in his first three NBA seasons, Pritchard in each of the last two seasons totaled three double-doubles (2023-24) and a career-best of five double-doubles 2024-25.
Payton Pritchards 4 Of 5 Double-Doubles In 2024-25
Dec. 12, 2024 (123-99) Win @ DET: 27 Points & 10 Assists (10/20 FGs-7/15 3-Pt.).
Dec. 15, 2024 (112-98) Win@ WAS: 15 Points, 11 Rebounds-Career-High, 6 Rebounds,
(5/10 3-Pt.).
Dec. 27, 2024 (142-105) Win Versus IND: 18 Points, 10 Assists, 8 Rebounds, (7/16 FGs-4/10 3-pt.).
Apr. 9, 2025 (96-76) Loss @ ORL: 15 Points & 10 Assists (7/17 FGs-1/7 3-Pt.).
In the Celtics’ 115-113 triumph Mar. 15, 2025 at the Brooklyn Nets, Pritchard had 22 points, six rebounds and two steals on 7/11 from the field, including 5/8 on his triple tries. He reached 219 made threes for the season on this night, setting a new NBA-record for total made threes by a reserve, which reached 246 made threes off the bench for 2024-25.
In the Celtics’ (128-118) win Mar. 5, 2025 versus the Portland Trail Blazers, Pritchard scored a career-high of 43 points with 10 rebounds and five assists on 14/20 from the floor, including a career-high 10 made threes (10/16 3-Pt.; 5/5 FTs) White scored a career-high of 41 points on 14/26 from the field, including a career-high nine made triples (9/17 3-Pt.) and 14/14 at the foul line.
Pritchard and White became the first pair of teammates in Celtics history to each score 40-plus points and became the first duo in NBA history to each make nine or more triples, and the first duo in NBA history to make a combined 19 threes.
Players To Make 10 Marcus Smart 11 11/18/2020 Versus PHX
Or More Threes In A Payton Pritchard 10 3/5/2025 Versus POR
Game In Celtics History Sam Hauser 10 3/17/2024 @ WAS
Jaylen Brown 10 3/21/2021 Versus ORL
Players To Make 9 3-Pt. Derrick White 9 3/5/2025 Versus POR
In A Game Celtics History Sam Hauser 9 3/10/2025 Versus POR
Jayson Tatum 9 3/21/2024 @CHI
Payton Pritchard 9 4/9/2023 Versus ATL
Jayson Tatum 9 1/23/2022 @WAS
Isaiah Thomas 9 12/30/2016 Versus MIA
Antonie Walker 9 11/11/2002 @ MIN & 11/7/2001 @ SAC
Four seasons ago, the Celtics took a chance on an undrafted rookie out of University of Virginia in forward Sam Hauser (8.5 ppg, 45.1 FG%, 41.6 3-Pt.%) and all he has done in his first four seasons with the C’s is become a pure shooter off their bench. That earned him a new four-year, $45 million extension July 21, 2024.
Hauser By GP GS MPG PPG FG% 3-Pt.% 3-Pt.
Season 2021-22 26 0 6.1 2.5 46.0% 43.2% 19/44
2022-23 80 8 16.1 6.4 45.5% 41.8% 140/355
2023-24 79 13 22.0 9.0 44.6% 42.4% 197/465
2024-25 71 19 21.7 8.5 45.1% 41.6% 166/399
Hauser As A 2023-24: 12.4 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 37.5 FG%, 37.0 3-Pt.% (47/127 3-Pt.)
Starter Last 2 2024-25 : 12.2 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 47.9 FG%, 44.7 3-Pt.% (63/141 3-Pt.)
Seasons
In the Celtics aforementioned win versus Jazz, Hauser scored a career-high 33 points with six boards on 11/23 from the floor, including 9/19 from three. In the second half of the contest, Hauser had 28 points on 9/15 shooting, including 7/10 on his triple tries, including 23 points on 7/10 from three in the third quarter. Those seven triples in the third by Hauser set a single-quarter franchise record.
Players In NBA History To Make At Least Seven Three-Pointers In A Quarter
Klay Thompson (DAL: 9,8,7,7 & 7) Luka Doncic (LAL: 7)
Kelly Oubre, Jr. (PHI: 8) Jaren Jackson, Jr. (MEM: 7)
Kevin Love (UTA: 8) Zach LaVine (SAC: 7)
Sam Hauser (BOS: 7) Duncan Robinson (DET: 7)
Tyler Herro (MIA: 7) Coby White (CHI: 7)
Grayson Allen (PHX: 7) Danny Green (7)
Keegan Murray (SAC: 7) Stephen Curry (GS: 7,7, & 7)
Tyrese Haliburton (IND: 7) J.R. Smith (7,7, & 7)
Donovan Mitchell (CLE: 7)
What helped the Celtics on route to their 18th NBA title in 2023-24 was their ability to close the door on an opposing team’s offense and throw the knockout punch with their high volume marksmanship from three-point range.
The Celtics in 2024-25 set the single-season NBA-record for three made (17.8) and attempted (48.2), and were ranked No. 10 in three-point percentage in 2024-25 (10th NBA).
The Celtics beat the previous mark for three made per game in a single-season of the and the percentage of points from three by the 2020-21 Utah Jazz at 16.7 made threes and 43 percent respectably. They also surpassed the previous single-season mark of threes attempted by the 2018-19 Houston Rockets.
They registered another NBA single-season record of 79 games, making at least 10 threes, which also included a single-season NBA-record 26 games with at least 20 made threes.
Celtics Made 3-Pt. Month 3-Pt. 3-Pt.%
& 3-Pt.% By Month Oct. 2024 21.0 40.7%
2024-25 Nov. 2024 18.5 36.7%
Dec. 2024 17.7 35.4%
Jan. 2025 16.0 36.0%
Feb. 2025 18.4 39.0%
Mar. 2025 18.3 36.9%
Apr. 2025 16.1 35.4%
Celtics Also 1st 26 Games Final 56 Games
2024-25 21-5 Record 40-16
119.9 PPG 114.6
19.0 3-Pt. Made PG 17.2
In 2024-25, the Celtics posted four of the top eight games in NBA history for the most threes attempted in regulation in 2024-25.
Most Three-Point Attempts In Regulation In NBA History
UTA 63 4/11/2025 Versus OKC Loss BOS 62 3/31/2025 @MEM Win
BOS 63 3/12/2025 Versus DAL Loss BKN 61 2/26/2025 Versus BKN Loss
OKC 63 2/4/2024 Versus TOR Win BOS 61 11/16/2024 Versus TOR Win
HOU 63 5/16/2021 @ ATL Loss BOS 61 10/22/2024 Versus NYK Win
To bring into clearer view the kind of season the Celtics had in shooting the three a season ago, three players in White, Tatum, and Pritchard registered at least 200 made threes in the fewest amount of games (62 games) a season ago.
Celtics 3-Pt. Attempts Jayson Tatum: 10.1 Jaylen Brown: 5.7
Per Game By Players Derrick White 9.1 Sam Hauser: 5.6
In 2024-25 Payton Pritchard 7.8
One the biggest qualms by critics of the Celtics since Coach Mazzulla took the reins as their new sideline leader in the 2022-23 NBA campaign is that they relied way too heavily on making threes to win games.
Last season, the Celtics tried to find that happy medium between taking threes judicially and when the mid-range shot is there or they can score at the rim to make the most of those chances.
In 2024-25, the Celtics registered a league-leading 16 games where they shot 65-plus percent on their two-point field goals.
Overall last season, the Celtics ranked No. 19 in field goal percentage (46.2%). While they ranked No. 6 in free throw percentage a season ago, the Celtics were ranked No. 30, last in the NBA in free throw attempts (19.1). Ranking No. 10 in offensive boards per contest a season ago (11.4), the Celtics ranked in the middle of the pack in Second Chance Points (14.2).
Celtics Also 1st 26 Games Next 16 Games Next 40 Games
In 2024-25 Record 21-5 8-8 32-8
PPG 119.9 113.6 115.0
3-Pt.% 37% 34% 38%
FT Att. 22.0 19.5 17.0
The Celtics’ three-point marksmanship also made up for them ranking at the bottom in paint points at No. 30 (41.2) and No. 29 in fastbreak points (11.9) in 2024-25.
While the Celtics had the Kia Sixth Man of the Year in Pritchard and fellow reserves in Hauser, Luke Kornet, Neemias Queta, and veteran big man Al Horford, the Celtics were only ranked No. 26 in bench points per game (30.4).
What made the Celtics’ isolation and three-point heavy offensive attack, which ranked No. 16 in assists per game (26.1), is that they took great care of the rock, averaging just 11.9 turnovers per game in 2024-25, ranking second only to the Oklahoma City Thunder (11.7).
Whether it Glenn “Doc” Rivers (2004-13), now Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens (2013-21), now Houston Rockets Head Coach Ime Udoka (2021-23), and now Coach Mazzulla (2023-present), when the Celtics have been at their best, especially when they won titles in 2008 and 2024, they got it done at the defensive end.
Celtics Defensive Rankings In NBA 2024-25
45.0 Opp. FG%-2nd 46.2 Opp. Paint Points PG-4th
34.7 Opp. 3-Pt.% -rd 13.6 Opp. Fastbreak PPG-4th
17.7 Opp. Made 3-Pt. PG-1st 12.8 Opp. Second Chance PPG-5th
37.1 Opp. 3-Pt. Att. PG-11th +1.6 Rebound Diff.-8th
5.5 BPG-5th +8.8 PPG Diff.-4th
45.3 RPG-8th
Behind that stellar defense last season, the Celtics compiled 23 of their 33 road wins by double-digits and registered 26 wins by 15-plus points. Produced a 41-7 mark in games decided by 10 points or more and had six comeback wins after trailing by 10-plus points. Were a sparkling 19-1 when they held their opponent under 100 points (42-20 when they allowed 100 points or more); 40-6 when they outrebounded their opponent; and 39-8 when they had fewer turnovers than their opponent.
Most Wins In NBA 2024-25 OKC: 40 Wins CLE: 24 Wins LAC: 20 Wins
By 15-Plus Points BOS: 26 Wins MEM: 23 Wins
MIN: 24 Wins NYK: 22 Wins
In their 118-110 triumph Feb. 2, 2025 at the Philadelphia 76ers (ESPN), the Celtics overcame a 26-point deficit, outscoring the Sixers 74-49 in the second half, including 38-16 in the fourth quarter.
The Celtics defense really helped them out in close contests as they were 8-3 in games decided by three points or less. Compiled the fourth best record in clutch games at 24-11 and the best-win percentage in the league in 2024-25 (.686) in games within five points in the final five minutes of regulation/overtime. They also compiled a 4-2 mark in overtime in 2024-25.
Best Records In OT IND: 5-1 Record NYK: 6-2 Record
2024-25 (Top 4) DEN: 5-1 Record BOS: 4-2 Record
The Celtics steadiness on both ends is how they put together a 50-6 mark when ahead at intermission and 3-1 when tied at the half. Were a sparkling 56-7 when ahead after three quarters (just 1-4 when tied).
The Celtics on the nights when their threes were not going down and had defensive slippage went 8-14 when down at the half and only 4-10 when they trailed after three quarters.
Celtics At Home On Road
2024-25 28-13 Record 33-8
116.9 PPG 115.6
108.1 Opp. PPG 106.2
+8.8 +/- +9.4
The Celtics compiled a plus/minus of +8.8 per game at home 2024-25 ranked fourth in the NBA and their +9.4 per game differential not only led the league a season ago, it was the third best for a single-season in NBA history.
Best Road PPG Diff. Season Diff. Won Title
In A Season In NBA LAL 1971-72 +11.3 Yes
History (Top 7) OKC 2024-25 +10.4 Yes
BOS 2024-25 +9.4 No
NYK 1969-70 +9.1 Yes
CHI 2011-12 +8.2 No
Celtics Defense NBA Rank
Mar 1-Apr. 13, 19-3 Record 2nd
2025 104.0 Opp. PPG 1st
44.6 Opp FG% 2nd
34.8 Opp. 3-Pt.% 7th
110.3 Def. Rating 6th
Only the Thunder had a higher rank in terms of record (20-3) and opponent’s field goal percentage (44.6%) from the start of March 2025 to Apr. 13, 2025.
Behind their defense and their accurate sharp-shooting from three-point range last season, the Celtics registered six wins overcoming a 10-plus point deficit.
In the rare instances when they did not have things clicking on both ends, the Celtics had eight defeats where they blew a double-digit lead in 2024-25.
The Celtics in their quest for a second straight title began with a 103-86 triumph in Game 1 of the opening-round versus the Orlando Magic Apr. 20, 2025 (ABC), to take a 1-0 series lead.
White led the way with 30 points and two blocks on 10/18 from the floor, including 7/12 from three-point range. Pritchard had 19 points (6/8 FGs)-connecting on 4/6 from three.
Tatum, who shot just 8/23 from the field, including 1/8 from three and 0/4 at the foul line had a double-double with 17 points and 14 rebounds.
Tatum with 8:28 left in Game 1 on a dunk attempt was fouled by the Magic’s Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and landed awkwardly on his right side and remained on the hardwood clinching his right hand. He missed the two ensuing foul shots. X-rays were taken postgame and Tatum said the imaging on his right side came back clean.
Without Tatum for Game 2 (bone bruise right wrist), they turned to Brown to lead them, which he did as the Celtics led virtually the entire game winning 109-100 three nights later (TNT) to take a 2-0 series lead.
The Celtics led Game 2 23-21 after the first quarter; 50-47 at intermission and 81-71 after three quarters. They led by as many as 15 in the final period and held off a late Magic rally.
Brown, registering the third highest scoring game of his postseason career with 36 points along with 10 boards and five assists on 12/19 from the field, including 5/7 from three and 7/8 at the charity stripe.
Brown In 1st Qtr. 12 Points, 4/7 FGs-2/2 3-Pt.
Game 2 3rd Qtr. 13 Points, 5/5 FGs-2/2 3-Pt.
4th Qtr. 9 Points, 3/7 FGs-1/3 3-Pt.
White, who battled foul trouble had 17 points with six boards and five assists (6/14 FGs-3/10 3-Pt.). He scored eight of his 13 points (3/6 FGs-2/5 3-Pt.) in the fourth period. Pritchard scored 14 (5/11 FGs), going 3/6 from three.
Brown and White combined for 17 points (6/13 FGs-3/8 3-Pt.) in the fourth period. The rest of the team combined for 11 points (4/8 FGs) in the final period.
Brown in Game 2 registered his seventh career postseason double-double; his 14th career 30-plus point game in the postseason; and became fifth Player in franchise playoff history with a 35/10/5 (points/rebounds/assists) contest.
35/10/5 (Points/Rebounds/Assists) Games Last Occurance
Games In Celtics Playoff History *Larry Bird 9 1987
Jayson Tatum 4 2024
*John Havlicek 3 1974
*Paul Pierce 2 2003
Jaylen Brown 1 2025
Smart had 20 points making 3/6 from three. Brown had 18 points and nine boards but began Game 5 2/11 from the field and finished 5/18 shooting, including 0/5 from three.
Celtics in Game 2 shot 45 percent from the field (36/80 FGs), going 12/37 on their triple tries and 25/33 at the foul line. Had just 17 assists but only 11 turnovers that led to 15 Magic points. While they were outscored 46-38 in the paint, the Celtics outrebounded the Magic 46-34, including 13-7 on the offensive boards and outscored their visitors 20-10 in Second Chance Points.
While they got Tatum back in the lineup for Game 3 at the Magic, the Celtics offense went cold offensively, particularly in the second half to fall 95-93 Apr. 25, 2025 (ESPN) to have their series lead cut to 2-1.
The Celtics trailed by as many as eight in the first and were down 31-27 after the first quarter. They rallied, outscoring the Magic 32-18 in the second quarter, including a 19-5 run to close the period to lead 59-49 at the half. They were outscored 24-11 in the third to trail 73-70 after three quarters. Down 12 (86-74) with 6:58 left, the Celtics showed their championship medal with a 17-5 run, capped by a score by White to tie it 91-91 with 2:31 left. Consecutive scores by the Magic’s Franz Wagner at the hoop put the Magic up 95-91 with 1:26 left. A dunk by White closed the gap to 95-93 with 28 seconds left but never got closer.
Tatum (bone bruise right wrist) in his return from one-game absence scored 36 points with nine boards on 10/22 shooting, including 4/10 from three, and 12/12 at the free throw line.
Brown scored 19 with six rebounds on 7/14 shooting. White had 16 points with five assists, and two steals also on 7/14 shooting, but went just 2/8 on his triple tries.
3rd Qtr. BOS ORL Celtics 11 points in third quarter-season-low for Qtr.
Game 3 11 Points 24 3/17 FGs-1/8 3-Pt. 2 Assists 6 TOs-led 7 ORL Pts
3/17 FGs 9/22 in the third quarter.
1/8 3-Pt. 2/10
2/5 FTs 6/8 Celtics 44.6 FGS (33/74 FGs)-9/27 3-Pt. 18/22 FTs
6 TOs 4 15 Assists, 21 Turnovers, Led To 26 ORL Points.
4 Paint 14
Pts Were Outrebounded 42-39 (15-8 Off. Rebounds)
7 Rebs 14 And Outscored 18-11 Fastbreak Points; 16-10
2 Off. Rebs 6 Second Chance Points; 18-9 Bench Points;
2 2nd Chance 7 Even 44-44 In Paint Points.
The Celtics got back on track with a 107-98 victory in Game 4 at the Magic Apr. 27, 2025 (TNT) to take a commanding 3-1 series lead.
Celtics trailed and led by as many as eight in the first quarter led 32-29 after the first quarter; 53-48 at the half and 79-75 after three quarters. With the game tied 91-91 with 4:16 left, the Celtics closed Game 4 on a 16-7 run that began with a 9-1 scoring run by the visitors from “Beantown” that put the Celtics ahead to stay.
Tatum had his second straight 30-plus point game and second double-double of the series with 37 points and 14 rebounds with three steals. He shook off a rough shooting night going 10/25 from the field, including 3/10 from three by going 10/14 at the foul line.
He entered action averaging 10.7 points on 28 percent from the field in the first half his first two games played in the series. Tatum in the opening half of Game 4 had 15 points and eight boards on 6/12 from the field.
White scored 18 with seven assists, and seven rebounds on 7/11 shooting-(2/6 3-Pt.; 2/3 FTs).
Celtics in Game 4 overcame shooting just 43.6 percent from the floor (34/78 FGs) and just 9/33 on their triple tries by going 30-32 at the foul line. Had 17 assists and but just 11 turnovers and scored 15 points off the 10 forced miscues of the Magic. They outrebounded the Magic 46-38 and 11-7 on the offensive glass.
This was the first win of the season by the Celtics where they made under 10 triples-now 1-3 record (1-2 regular season). They also ended their five-game losing streak at the Magic.
Behind a dominant second half after a shaky first half, the Celtics closed the door on the Magic’s season with a 120-89 triumph Apr. 29, 2025 (NBATV) back at TD Garden to win the series 4-1.
Down by as many as nine in the opening half, trailing 27-23 after the first quarter and 49-47 at intermission, the Celtics outscored the Magic 36-13 in the third quarter, including a 21-9 run to close the period to lead 83-62 after three quarters and 73-40 in the second half.
The Celtics won their fifth consecutive best-of-seven series in five games or fewer, the second longest such streak in NBA history. They also improved to 33-0 in a best-of-seven series where they led 3-1 and are now 45-1 in their storied postseason history when they lead a best-of-seven series 2-0, including a 27-1 mark since 1983-84. Their 31-point triumph in Game 5 versus the Magic was their largest margin of victory by a team that trailed at intermission of a postseason game.
Tatum in the series clincher had a near triple-double with his third straight 35-plus point game with 35 points and a Playoff Career-High 10 assists and eight boards. He was 10/16 from the field and 4/5 from three and 11/11 at the foul line.
Tatum Game 5 1st Qtr. 10 Points, 5 Assists, 3/5 FGs, 4/4 FTs
Versus ORL 1st Half 16 Points, 6 Assists, 6/9 FGs, 4/4 FTs
2nd Half 19 Points, 4/5 3-Pt., 7/7 FTs
Tatum For The 31.3 PPG-Career-High For Playoff Series
Series Versus ORL 24.6 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 5.3 APG in 24 Career Closeout Games
Game 1: 17 Points; Game 2 DNP (Wrist); Games 3-5: 36.0 PPG
Most Consecutive 35-Point *Larry Bird 1987 3
Games Celtics’ Playoffs History Jayson Tatum 2025 3
*Hall Of Famer
Players With 35/10 (Points/Assists) *Larry Bird Game 7 1984 East Semis Versus NYK
In Series Clincher In Celtics Jayson Tatum Game 5 East First-Round Versus ORL
Playoff History *Hall Of Famer
Brown scored 23 with six rebounds on 9/18 from the floor-(2/4 3-Pt.; 3/5 FTs).
White, who was very quiet with just five points and five assists, with four rebounds (2/6 FGs-0/3 3-Pt.), the scoring was picked up by Pritchard (4/8 FGs-2/4 3-Pt.) and Hauser (4/4 FGs-2/2 3-Pt.) each scoring 10.
The Celtics shot a series-best 56.6 percent from the floor (43.76 FGs), including 13/24 on their triple tries and 21/24 at the charity stripe. They had 30 assists and just 11 turnovers that did lead to 12 Magic points but scored 20 points off 12 forced turnovers. Despite being outscored by two points in fastbreak (13-11), the Celtics outscored the Magic by 12 in the paint (48-36). That also is how they overcame a deficit on the glass (44-38), including a deficit of 12 on the offensive glass (15-3), and a 12-point deficit in Second Chance Points (15-3).
The good vibes of that First-Round triumph over the Magic seemed to continue for the Celtics, who led by double-digits in the third quarter faltered late in the second half and lost in overtime (108-105) in Game 1 of the East Semis versus the New York Knicks May 5, 2025 (TNT) to fall behind 1-0 in the series.
The Celtics also saw their nine-game home win streak dating back to the 2024 Playoffs concluded.
Leading the entire opening half up by as many as 16 the Celtics led 26-25 after the first quarter and outscored the Knicks 35-20 in the second quarter to lead 61-45 at the half.
They grew the lead 75-55 with 5:45 left in the third quarter, the Celtics were outscored 20-9 to close the third, getting outscored 30-23 in the third to only lead 84-75 after three quarters.
The Celtics were then outscored 11-2 to start the fourth period to be tied 86-86, getting outscored 31-11 after leading by 20 (75-55). The Celtics answered with a 12-6 run, capped by a three-pointer by White for a 98-92 lead. They were then outscored by the Knicks 8-0 to trail 100-98 late in regulation. The Celtics tied matters moments later (100-100) to force overtime.
Overtime began with a 6-0 run by the Knicks the first 2:30 of OT that put the Celtics down 106-100. A three-pointer by Brown cut the deficit to 108-105 with 1:16 left in overtime. But with a chance to tie it to force a second overtime, Brown had the pass to him knocked away at the final buzzer as the Celtics were outscored by a combined 33-21 in the fourth quarter and overtime, including 25-16 in the fourth period.
Tatum had his third straight double-double with 23 points and 16 rebounds with six assists, but shot just 7/23 from the floor, including 4/15 from three and just 5/7 at the foul line.
Tatum on this night passed Hall of Famer Paul Pierce into No. 5 on the Celtics all-time Playoff scoring list.
Brown also scored 23 with seven rebounds and five assists going 8/10 at the foul line. But he too had his shooting difficulties going 7/20 from the floor, including just 1/10 on their triple tries.
White also had a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds with two block shots. LIke Tatum and Brown, White too struggled with his shot going 6/18 from the floor, including 5/16 on his triple tries. Pritchard off the bench scored 13 (3/6 FGs-2/5 3-Pt.; 5/5 FTs).
Celtics Game 1st Half Brown 14 Points, 5/11 FGs
1 Versus NYK Tatum 13 Points, 4/10 FGs
Pritchard 13 Points, 3/5 FGs-2/4 3-Pt., 5/5 FTs
2nd Half Brown 10 Points, 2/9 FGs
Tatum 9 Points, 3/13 FGs
Pritchard 0 Points 0/1 FGs
The Celtics shot a season-low 35.1 percent from the floor (34/97 FGs), going 15/60 from three, and 22/26 from the foul line. Had just 18 assists and 14 turnovers that led to 17 Knicks points. They outrebounded the Knicks 59-49, including 19-12 offensive glass. Were outscored 36-34 in the paint; 24-14 bench points; 24-20 in Second Chance Points.
The Celtics 45 missed threes in Game 1 set a single-game NBA Playoff record of futility from three. Of their 49 field goal attempts in the second half of Game 1, 37 of those 49 came from three-point range. Out of their 20 field goal attempts in the third quarter, 19 of the 20 came from three.
Celtics 3-Pt.Game 1 Derrick White: 5/16 Jaylen Brown: 1/10
Versus Knicks Jayson Tatum: 4/15 Sam Hauser: 0/2
Payton Pritchard: 2/5
In the extra frame, the Celtics had just two made field goals, going 2/8 from the floor, including 1/3 on their triple tries, with three turnovers.
The Celtics loss in Game 1 was their first such defeat in their storied Playoff history where they led by 16-plus points at intermission, now 58-1 such record.
The same scenario played out for the Celtics in Game 2 two nights later, where they built another 20-point lead in the second half and were up by double digits early in the fourth quarter and near the middle of the fourth quarter but could not hold on and lost 91-90 (TNT) versus the Knicks to fall behind in the series 2-0, both losses at home.
The Celtics led 24-13 after the first quarter and led by as many as 16 in the opening half, and led 50-41 at the half.
They grew the lead to 73-53 with 3:12 left in the third quarter but were outscored 8-0 to close the period and only led 73-61 after three quarters.
The Celtics opened the fourth period on a 8-4 run to lead 81-65 with 9:46 left and led 84-74 with 6:16 left but were outscored 17-7 to close regulation and 38-17 after leading as mentioned 73-53 to trail 91-90 with 12.1 seconds left. On their final possession, the inbounds pass to Tatum was knocked away by the Knicks Mika Bridges and stolen as time expired.
Brown in defeat led the way with 20 points with six boards and two steals, going an abysmal 8/23 from the floor, including 2/7 on his triple tries (2/4 FTs).
White also scored 20 with nine boards, five assists, and three blocks but two was inefficient with his shooting going 6/17 from the floor, including 3/11 on their triple tries (5/5 FTs).
Tatum, who had his fourth straight double-double and fifth in the first seven games he played of the 2025 postseason with 13 points and 14 rebounds with five assists and two steals, shot poorly again going 5/19 from the floor and just 1/5 from three-point range.
The Celtics in Game 2 shot just 36.2 percent from the field (34/94 FGs)-10/40 from three, and just 12/15 at the foul line. Had just 17 assists and 17 turnovers that led to 14 Knicks points. They forced 16 Knicks turnovers (BOS: 9 steals) that they turned into 25 points.
Celtics In 4th Qtr. To Game 1: 16 Points, 4/21 FGs (19 FG%), 2/15 3-Pt.
Starts East Semis Versus Game 2: 17 Points, 5/24 FGs (20.8 FG%), 2/11 3-Pt.
NYK
While they went 10/40 on their triple tries in Game 2, the Celtics were 21/42 shooting in the paint. Were a +5 on the glass (51-46) and a +6 on the offensive glass (16-10). Were a +11 in points off turnovers (25-14) and a +9 in Second Chance Points (23-14).
Tatum and Brown combined for 2/19 shooting, and 0/9 from three in the fourth quarter to open this series. They are now 25/100 on their triple tries in the first two games of the series. Their 75 misses from three is the most over a two-game span
In the fourth quarter of Game 2, the Celtics missed 13 straight shots, including missing seven straight triples, which tied their largest such drought since 1998. They went 2/15 from the floor in the final 8:40 of Game 2.
Celtics In 4th Qtr. Game 1: Jayson Tatum: 0/7 FGs & Jaylen Brown: 0/3 FGs
To Open East Semis Game 2: Jayson Tatum: 1/5 FGs-0/2 3-Pt. & Jaylen Brown 0/4 FGs
Versus NYK 0/1 3-Pt.
The Celtics fell for only the second time in their storied postseason history after leading by at least 20 points in a Playoff game, falling to a mark of 64-2.
With their championship medal tested once again, the Celtics rose to the moment like they did in the opening-round against the Magic with a dominant 115-93 win in Game 3 at the Knicks May 10, 2025 (ABC) to pull within 2-1 in the series.
The Celtics led wire-to-wire, leading 36-20 after the first quarter; 71-46 at the half; 96-70 after three quarters, leading by as many as 31.
Pritchard led the way with 23 points on 8/16 shooting, including 5/10 on his triple tries.
Tatum, while he struggled again from the floor overall at 8/20, scored 22 points with nine boards, seven assists and two steals, hitting 5/9 on his triple tries. It was his 50th career Playoff game with at least 20/5/5 (points/rebounds/assists).
Tatum entered action having registered totaling 2/12 from the floor, including 0/2 from three the first two games of the series. He had just five points on 2/7 shooting, including 1/3 in the fourth quarter of Game 3.
Brown scored 19 despite going just 7/18 from the floor-(2/6 3-pt.; 3/4 FTs). White scored 17 with five rebounds (6/10 FGs), hitting 3/6 from three.
Celtics In 4th Qtr. East Jayson Tatum 6 Points, 3/19 FGs
Semis Versus Knicks Jaylen Brown 6 Points, 1/7 FGS (DNP 4th Qtr. Game 3)
After going 25/100 on their triple tries in the first two games of the series (25 3-Pt.%), went 20/40 from three in Game 3, going 6/7 from three in the first quarter. Their 86 three-point percentage in a quarter so far this postseason. They were 12/19 on their triple tries in the opening half and were 7/9 on wide open triples in Game 3.
For Game 3, the Celtics shot 48.2 percent from the field (40/83 FGs)-20/40 as mentioned from three and 15/17 from the foul line. Had 23 assists and just 12 turnovers that led to 14 Knicks points. The 11 forced turnovers the Celtics turned into 14 points. They also compiled eight block shots.
While they had a -14 differential in paint points (48-34), the Celtics outscored the Knicks 18-8 in fastbreak points. While they were outrebounded 43-42, including 17-12 on the offensive glass, the Celtics were even with the Knicks 18-18 in Second Chance Points.
The Celtics were on the verge of evening the series, the Celtics just like in Games 1 and 2 let go of the rope and in the process not only lost Game 4 (121-113) May 12, 2025 (ESPN) at the Knicks, to fall behind 3-1 in the series, they lost their star headliner.
Leading the entire first half, up 39-28 after the first quarter and 62-51 at the half, closing the first half on a 12-0 run.
The C’s built the lead to 14 (72-58), thanks to a three-pointer by White with 9:06 left in the third quarter, the Celtics were outscored 21-11 to close the third quarter and 37-23 overall in the third quarter to only lead 88-85 after three quarters.
A triple by Tatum tied it 96-96 with 8:22 left and hit another triple moments later to put the Celtics up 99-98 with 7:17 left, and then had a three-point play tied matters again (102-102) with 6:12 left. The Celtics were outscored 21-11 to close matters falling behind by as many as 12, as they were outscored by the homestanding Knicks 33-28 in the fourth quarter.
Tatum led the way with a Playoff-high 42 points, eight rebounds, four assists, four steals, and two blocks on 16/28 shooting, including 7/16 on his triple tries.
White scored 23 on 6/11 from three-point range (5/7 FTs). Brown scored 20 with seven boards on decent 7/16 shooting, but just 2/8 on his triple tries (4/6 FTs). Pritchard scored 12 but was just 4/10 from the floor and just 2/7 from three.
Tatum’s memorable night came to a stretching halt late in the final period while diving for a loose ball had his leg give out and later was revealed that he ruptured his Achilles and was carried from the floor and taken to the locker room in a wheelchair.
Celtics In Game 4 At Knicks
1st Qtr. Jayson Tatum 15 Points, 5 Rebounds, 6/8 FGs-3/5 3-pt.
Derrick White 14 Points, 4/4 3-Pt., (2/3 FTs)
1st Half Jayson Tatum 20 Points, 6 Rebounds, 2 Steals, 2 Blocks, 8/13 FGs-4/7 3-Pt.
Derrick White 17 Points, 4/5 3-Pt., 5/7 FTs
Jaylen Brown 12 Points, 6 Rebounds, 3/9 FGs-2/6 3-Pt., 4/6 FTs
3rd Qtr. Jayson Tatum 11 Points, 4/9 FGs-1/6 3-Pt.
4th Qtr. Jayson Tatum 11 Points, 4/6 FGs-2/3 3-Pt.
Jayson Tatum Game 4th 30-Plus Point Game Of 2025 Playoffs
4 At Knicks 5th Career 40-Plus Point Game In Postseason
Jayson Tatum In Reg. Season 33.5 PPG, 53.5 FG% (46/86 FGs), 47.8 3-Pt.%
2024-25 Versus Knicks (22/46 3-Pt.) +58
2025 East Semis 325.0 PPG, 40 FG% (36/90 FGs), 37.8 3-Pt.%
(17/45 3-Pt.), +12
Most Career 40-Plus Point *John Havlicek 5 Jayson Tatum 5
Games Celtics Playoff History *Larry Bird 5
*Hall Of Famer
Most 35-Plus Point Games In *Larry Bird 1987 3 Reggie Lewis 1992 2
Single Postseason Celtics History Jayson Tatum 2025 3 *Larry Bird 1984 2
*Hall Of Famer Jayson Tatum 2021 2 *John Havlicek 1969 2
*Sam Jones 1965 2
Most Career 30-Plus Point Games *Larry Bird 43 *Paul Pierce 16
Celtics Playoff History (Top 8) Jayson Tatum 34 Jaylen Brown 14
*Hall Of Famer *John Havlicek 30 *Kevin McHale 13
*Sam Jones 21 *Tom Heinsohn 10
The Celtics in Game 4 shot 48.1 percent from the floor (38/79 FGs) and 18/48 from three and 19/26 at the foul line. Had just 15 assists. While they forced 12 turnovers that they turned into 18 points (BOS 8 steals), the Celtics had 12 turnovers that resulted in 19 Knicks points. They were outrebounded 43-31, including 13-7 on the offensive glass. The Celtics were outscored 64-32 in the paint and 15-9 Second Chance Points.
After posting an NBA-best 24-11 mark in clutch games during the regular season, the Celtics with their Game 4 loss at the Knicks fell to 1-4 in games within five points in the final five minutes of regulation/overtime so far this postseason.
With their reign as defending NBA champions hanging in the balance on their home floor, the Celtics without their star headliner played with a forcefulness in the second half for a dominant 127-102 triumph May 14, 2025 (TNT) to cut the series deficit to 3-2.
White picked up the slack in the absence of Tatum with 34 points and three blocks on 9/16 from the field, including 7/13 from three and 9/11 at the foul line.
Brown had his third double-double of this postseason with 26 points and a career-high 12 assists with eight boards on 9/17 from the floor, including 3/5 from three (5/8 FTs). Pritchard had 17 points and five rebounds (6/17 FGs), going 5/14 from three.
After a rough beginning where they trailed 32-30 after the first quarter, the Celtics tied it at the half (59-59) outscoring the Knicks 26-17 to close the second quarter. Following a 65-65 tie with 10:15 left in the third quarter, the Celtics blew the game open with a 26-11, outscoring the Knicks 32-17 in the period to lead 91-76 after three quarters and grew the lead to 28 in the fourth period, outscoring the visitors from the “Big Apple” 68-43 in the second half.
Celtics 1st Half White 19 Points, 6/10 FGs-5/9 3-Pt.
Game 5 Versus Brown 17 Points, 7 Rebounds, 6 Assists, 7/11 FGs-3/3 3-Pt.
Knicks
Brown and White combined in Game 5 to score/assist on 85 of the 127 Celtics points.
White In Game 34 Points-2nd Highest Scoring Performance Of His Postseason Career.
5 Versus Knicks 1st In Franchise Playoff History With 6-Plus Made Threes In
Consecutive Games.
Had His Fourth Career Playoff Game With 7-Plus Made Threes: Only
Behind Hall Of Famer Ray Allen 5 Such Games In Celtics Playoff
History.
Had His 4th Career 30-Plus Point Playoff Game.
Jaylen Brown Game Had His First Career 25/10 (Points/Assists) Game Of His Postseason
5 Versus Knicks Career And First To Do This In An Elimination Game Since Hall Of
Famer Larry Bird did it in 1984.
The Celtics in Game 5 shot 52.4 percent from the field (44/84 FGs)-22/49 on their triple tries, but just 17/26 at the foul line. Had 27 assists and just nine turnovers and turned 11 forced turnovers into 12 points. Had 12 blocks. They outrebounded the Knicks 44-40, even 12-12 on the offensive glass and outscored the Knicks 36-26 in the paint, 16-14 in Second Chance Points, and 40-22 in bench points.
The Celtics reign as NBA champions concluded two nights later in the “Big Apple” as the Knicks took down the boys from “Beantown” 119-81 (ESPN) to lose the series 4-2.
The boys from “Beantown” have not won back-to-back titles since the 1968-69 season.
Brown scored 20 with six rebounds, and six assists but seven turnovers on just 8/20 from the floor and 3/9 on his triple tries. He had scored at least 10 points in 98 consecutive Playoff games.
Most Consecutive Playoff Games LeBron James (LAL) 290
Scoring At Least 10 Points Amongst Kevin Durant (HOU) 170
Active Players (Top 5) James Harden (LAC) 155
Stephen Curry (GS) 150
Jaylen Brown (BOS) 98
Pritchard scored 11 (5/10 FGs-1/4 3-Pt.).
White after a stellar performance in Game 5 had just eight points on 3/11 from the floor, and 2/8 from three-point range. Hauser scored just six on 2/6 shooting, including 1/5 on his triple tries.
After the score was tied 16-16 in the first quarter, the Celtics trailed from that point trailing 26-20 after the first quarter and were outscored at one point 17-3 in the second quarter and 38-17 in the period to trail 64-37 at the half; and 92-57 after three quarters, trailing by as many as 41.
The Celtics for Game 6 shot just 36 percent (31/86 FGs) from the floor, including 12/40 on his triple tries and just 7/10 at the foul line. Had only 19 assists and 16 turnovers that led to 22 Knicks points and scored just eight points on 14 Knicks miscues. Were outrebounded 55-36 and 15-9 on the offensive glass and outscored 23-8 in fastbreak points; 48-34 in the paint and 25-11 in Second Chance Points.
Celtics 3-Pt. In Games 1-2: 25/100 (NYK: 26 Total Made 3-Pt.)
East Semis Versus Games 3-5 60/137 3-Pt. (NYK: 29 Made 3-Pt.)
Knicks Game 6: 12/40 3-Pt. (NYK: 16/45 3-Pt.)
Game 1: 15/60; Loss Game 3: 20/40; Win Game 5: 22/49; Win
Game 2: 10/40; Loss Game 4: 18/48; Loss Game 6: 12/40; Loss
In 2 Wins: 42/89 3-Pt. (47.2 3-Pt.%)
In 4 Wins: 55/189 3-Pt. (29.1 3-Pt.%)
Jaylen Brown First-Round Versus ORL: 23 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 49.4 FG% (40/81 FGs)
2025 Playoffs 44.4 3-Pt.% (8/18 3-Pt.), 84.4 FT% (27/32 FTs)
East Semis Versus NYK: 21.3 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 5.2 APG, 40.4 FG, (46/114 FGs), 28.9 3-Pt.% (13/45 3-Pt.)
Tatum (right Achilles surgery) missed his second straight game. He had played prior to missing the past two games 706 games (regular season and playoffs) since 2017-18-most in the NBA in that span.
The Celtics 38-point defeat in Game 5 at the Knicks, their largest margin of defeat when facing elimination in their storied Playoff history. Their streak of reaching the East Finals concluded at three straight. Have reached the East Finals in six out of the past nine seasons. They also had their winning streak when facing elimination on the road concluded at five, which tied the longest such winning streak in NBA Playoff history.
The Celtics dropped to 6-2 when facing elimination under Coach Mazzulla.
The Celtics the past four springs are 23-11 away from TD Garden, including 9-4 since the 2024 postseason on the road. That includes a 15-7 mark on the road since the 2023 Playoffs under Coach Mazzulla, which included a 2-3 mark on the road for the 2025 Playoffs.
The Celtics went 4-0 in the regular season versus the Knicks and were 8-1 their previous nine meetings against the Knicks entering this series.
Entering this series, the Celtics had a 20-4 mark in postseason games since 2024 and are now 22-8 in their last 30 Playoff games.
However, the Celtics fell to 2-15 in best-of-seven series when down 3-1, with their last such series win coming in the 1981 East Finals versus the 76ers.
The Celtics In The Year 1 Lost 2018 East Finals 4-3 Versus CLE
Jayson Tatum & Year 2 Lost 2019 East Semis 4-1 Versus MIL
Jaylen Brown Era Year 3 Lost 2020 East Finals 4-2 Versus MIA
In Playoffs Year 4 Lost 2021 First-Round 4-1 Versus BKN
Year 5 Lost 2022 Lost NBA Finals 4-2 Versus GS
Year 6 Lost 2023 East Finals 4-3 Versus MIA
Year 7 Won 2024 NBA Finals 4-1 Versus DAL
Year 8 Lost 2025 East Semis 4-2 Versus NYK
After bringing virtually their entire roster from their title squad the previous offseason, the Celtics and Team President Stevens in an effort to keep their financial coffers in line under the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) decided to shed their high salary players over this past offseason.
This retooling began in late March 2025 when the Celtics were sold for a reported $6.1 billion to Mr. Bill Chisolm, a native of Georgetown, MA; graduate of Dartmouth College; and Co-Founder and Managing Editor of Symphony Technology Group (a private equity group).
According to a report from ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Celtics were open to hearing trade offers for Brown and White, “if they get a big offer, they have to look at everything.”
With their late First-Round pick and early Second-Round picks, the Celtics selected at No. 28 and No. 32 respectably swingmen Hugo Gonzalez from Spain and Noah Penda from France.
In a draft night trade with the Magic, the Celtics dealt Penda in exchange for forward/center Armani Williams (No. 46 overall pick) from Rottingham, England and out of the University of Kentucky and the draft rights to guard Max Shulga (No. 46 overall pick) from Ukraine and out of the Virginia Commonwealth University, and 2026 and 2027 Second-Round picks.
The Celtics in a deal on June 23, 2025 dealt starting lead guard Jrue Holiday to the Trail Blazers in exchange for guard Anfernee Simons (19.3 ppg, 4.8 apg, 42.6 FG%, 36.3 3-Pt.% in 70 Games W/POR) and two future Second-Round picks.
In a three-team deal with the Brooklyn Nets and the Hawks on July 7, 2025, the Celtics acquired forward Georges Niang; a 2031 Second-Round pick (via CLE from ATL), and cash considerations from the Nets. The trade also sent Kristaps Porzingis to the Hawks.
The trades of Holiday and Porzingis gave the Celtics $40 million in tax savings for the 2025-26 season and brought them to $18 million above the Second Tax Apron, per ESPN”s Front Office Insider Bobby Marks. These deals also save the Celtics $301 million in 2025-26 in salary and taxes.
In filling out the roster, the Celtics later in the offseason added youngsters in forward Josh Minott at the start of July 1, 2025 on a two-year, $5 million deal. Seven days later, they signed center fellow former Minnesota Timberwolves player Luka Garza on a two-year, $5.5 million deal. In the middle of August 2025, the Celtics signed forward/center Chris Boucher (10.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 49.2 FG%, 36.3 3-Pt.% 50 Games W/TOR), who had spent the past seasons (2018-25) with the Toronto Raptors, where he was a part of their lone title team in 2019 on a one-year, $3.3 million deal.
In a deal in the early part of August 2025, the Celtics traded Niang to the Utah Jazz along with a 2027 and a 2031 Second-Round pick in exchange for rookie guard RJ Luis, Jr.
Simons, who played in a career-high 70 games has over the past four seasons averaged at least 17 points and made over 120 total threes (215/593 3-Pt.), including a career-high 215 made triples in 2024-25.
Along with his emergence as a consistent 20-point scorer, which he registered 38 such games, along with nine 30-plus point games for the boys from “Rip City” in 2024-25, Simons has totaled 2,3, and 2 double-doubles in three out of the past five seasons after totaling only one double-double (2018-21) in his first three seasons with the Trail Blazers.
Simons brings the ability to strike a match from three-point range, he has had his struggles defensively. Being with a defensive minded championship level team in the Celtics and the fact that he is eligible for a contract extension, Simons should come in with the mindset of blending in with the most complete team he has ever been a part of entering Season No. 8 in “The Association.”
“For me, I mean, I was super excited for the opportunity to come here and join a culture that’s already been set and, you know, something that was going to help out my career out tremendously. Just you know playing at the highest level and winning basketball. And that’s what I was excited about joining and being a part of,” Simons said at Media Day about being acquired by the Celtics on Sept. 29, 2025.
“It was kind of a surreal moment that it actually happened. I’ve turned the page and knew that I was going to a great spot and come here into a great organization. Everybody that's been here said great things about the organization.”
One person that Simons really heard about how great the Celtics are was his veteran when he first started with the Trail Blazers back in 2018-19 was former swingman Evan Turner, affectionately called E.T., who said that he “loved it” playing for the 18-time NBA champs
Simons added at Media Day that everyone he has encountered with the Celtics has been “pretty good” to him and he’s “pretty excited” about playing for a “historic” NBA franchise.
When Boucher has gotten major minutes with the Raptors, he showed to be an excellent scorer inside. A relentless rebounder, and effective shot blocker/rim protector. Last season in limited minutes, registered three double-doubles and made 70 triples (70/193 3-Pt.)
Boucher Best Seasons 2019-20 (62 Games) 13.2 MPG, 6.6 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 47.2 FG%
With The Raptors 32.4 3-Pt.% (12/37 3-Pt.), 5 Double-Doubles.
2020-21 (60 Games; 14 Starts) 24.2 MPG, 13.6 PPG, 6.7 RPG,
1.9 BPG 51.4 FG%, 38.3 3-Pt.% (90/235 3-Pt.) 12 Double-Doubles:
All Career-Highs.
2021-22 (80 Games; 9 Starts) 21.1 MPG, 9.4 PPG, 6.2 RPG,
46.4 FG%, 29.7 3-Pt.% (68/229 3-Pt.), 10 Double-Doubles.
2022-23 (76 Games) 20.0 MPG, 9.4 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 49.3 FG%,
32.8 3-Pt.% (62/189 3-Pt.), 9 Double-Doubles.
With veteran big men in Al Horford and Luke Kornet gone in free agency respectively to the Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs, manning the paint for the Celtics in 2024-25 will be Boucher, Neemias Queta, and Luka Garza.
“I wanted to go somewhere where I felt like there was a winning culture and winning, you know energy and also feeling like I wanted to see something different. I wanted to be able to show what I’m capable of doing in multiple ways in a game,” Boucher said about coming to Boston.
Boucher also said at Media Day that when he first talked to Stevens and front office brass of the Celtics during free agency that they wanted him “for a few years” and how good it felt it was “to be able to be in a position” where was wanted on a team that needed his abilities and his veteran leadership.
“No matter what it was, I feel like the one thing I was able to do is bring different ways to the game. If it’s a three or a rebound. An offensive rebound, hustle, take a charge. Even if things have to get a little bit feisty sometimes, I think that’s something that I’ve always done. And you know, I have a lot of energy to give. So, I think that’s something that does half of the work and through the years, I’ve gotten better also with my skills and all. So, when you put all of that together, it makes you be able to change a lot of things in a game.”
While some of the supporting cast has changed for Head Coach Joe Mazzulla’s squad over this offseason, the other headliners outside of Tatum remain in Brown, White, Pritchard, and Hauser.
For Brown in particular, this season will be the ultimate test to see if he can be the top dog of being able to lead the Celtics this season.
It is hard to imagine a player who has been a Finals MVP (2024), an NBA champion, four-time All-Star (2021, 2023-25); All-NBA Second- Teamer (2023) and All-Rookie Second-Teamer (2017). That said he has had outside of his rookie season (2016-17) he has always had Tatum alongside of him to help carry the load. This season, Brown will have the spotlight on him and he will be tasked with leading the Celtics back to the postseason.
At Media Day, Brown said he has had to put the work in to reach a level maturity to where he can take on the challenges of being in the spotlight of one of the most iconic franchises in the NBA. That he had “struggled” with the dynamic of moving through “certain spaces” and dealing with the press, the “expectations” and the “pressure” that comes with being a part of the Celtics.
“I’ m at the point now where I feel like, you know, I don’t care,” Brown said. “All the pressure. All the expectations. All that stuff is real. But I don’t need to put anything extra on myself at all, you know. I know who I am. I know what I’m capable of. So, I’m just going to go shine my light and let the chips fall where they may.”
Brown will not go into this challenge by himself, He will have White, Pritchard, and Hauser alongside of him and a supporting cast hungry to prove they can be important cogs in a championship squad.
As far Tatum possibly coming back this season, he said to ESPN”s Malika Andrews on Sept. 22, 2025’s edition of “NBA Today,” that his rehab from the aforementioned ruptured Achilles has been a “gradual transition” from his first on the court workout back on Sept. 21, 2025 for 15-20 minutes where he said it felt “really natural” and a “shy of relief” to be back on the hardwood rehab wise.
“It’s been a long, long journey, right? And I just always kind of reflect on, you know, surgery and then you get your stitches out,” Tatum added about his rehab.
“I keep emphasizing the most important thing is making a full recovery. Being 100 percent before I step back on the floor. I’m working towards something. I’m not rehabbing six days a week for no reason. So we’ll see.”
Tatum also said to Andrews that he has told his mom, his personal trainer and others in his inner circle a while back that he has “put” a date on the calendar of when he hopes to be back to 100 percent and able to get back onto the floor.
“Whenever that date is, it will be a home game in front of the fans at TD Garden. That’s something I have, you know, dreamed about and envisioned,” Tatum said.
Tatum also said that he is “super excited” about the Celtics squad entering this season and that the changes that have happened to the roster is “always” going to take place. While the “want” is to keep a good team together “forever” this season is a new chapter for the Celtics. A “new journey” that “he could not be more excited about.”
One person that is definitely in Tatum’s corner as he has gone through his rehabilitation back from his torn Achilles has been Coach Mazzulla.
He mentioned at Media Day that “you think” as someone whose going through something as difficult as Tatum is being on the shelf for really the first time in his basketball career because of a major injury, you just being there for support is very “important.”
“I was there for the first shot that he walked… I was there for the first shots that he took. I think it’s important, you know. You try to do that for everybody,” Coach Mazzulla said.
In the history of the Celtics, outside of the 1990s and the 2010s, the Boston Celtics have been able to hang a banner, or two-plus in the rafters first of the old Boston Garden and now TD Garden.
From the aforementioned Hall of Fame players and head coaches John Havlieck, Dave Cowens, Bob Cousy, Sam Jones, Jo Jo White, Tom Heinsohn, Red Auerbach, to Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, Dennis Johnson, Bill Walton, Cedric Maxwell, from K.C. Jones, and Bill Fitch to Glenn “Doc’Rivers” Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce to eventual Hall of Famers Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and possibly Joe Mazzulla, the Celtics have always found a way to reach the NBA mountain top.
We have also seen these eras of Celtics basketball reach their end on their terms.
This current era of Celtics basketball of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Joe Mazzulla does have some tread left on the tires to win a title. That said this year may not come to fruition in terms of winning a title this spring. However, the 2025-26 NBA campaign for the boys from “Beantown” can serve as a stepping stone to another title run. Leading that charge will be Coach Mazzulla and his coaching staff of Sam Cassell, Anthony Dobbins, Amile Jefferson, Craig Luschenat, D.J. MacLeay, Ross McManis, and Matt Reynolds.
“To me, no one should have higher, you know, expectations and a standard that you should have for yourself. And that ‘s not just in sports. I think that’s in your life, and your family or your household,” Mazzulla said to NBC Sports Boston’s Drew Carter, Kayla Thornton, and Marc D’Amico at Media Day about the expectations for the 2025-26.
“At the end of the day nothing should change. We only won two titles since 1986 [2008 & 2024], you know? So, clearly winning isn’t a measurement over the course of a long time. And so to me, it’s the culture. It’s the system. It’s the intrinsic expectations you build within yourself as a person and within yourself in the locker room, and within yourself as a team. And then you maximize your roster to be the best.”
“To me, the question is never going to change. We’re always going to put ourselves in position to be in the process of what it is to win a championship. But going about it through a process…. Can we be the best on both ends of the floor? Can we maximize our roster? Can we maximize our roster? And after that, you can’t really control it. And so, we just have to keep the level of intrinsic motivation more than the people you’ve never met before in your life.”
Best Case Scenario: The Celtics make the Playoffs in the middle of the pack in the East either at No. 4 or No. 5. Brown has a borderline MVP season and is an All-Star once again. White, Pritchard, and Hauser have standout seasons, while Simons and Boucher are standout contributors either as starters or off the bench. Minott and Garza gain the trust of Coach Mazzulla and earn serious playing time. The Celtics reach the East Semis.
Worst Case Scenario: The Celtics have to make the Playoffs through the East Play-In Tournament. Brown has an underwhelming season. Simons and Boucher struggle to make an impact. The Celtics take a step back defensively and are mediocre offensively. The Celtics fall in the opening-round in a hard fought six or seven games.
Grade: C-
Brooklyn Nets: 26-56 (4th Atlantic Division; No. 12 Seed in East); 12-29 at home, 14-27 on the road.
105.1 PPG-29th; Opp. ppg: 112.0-11th; 41.3 rpg-29th
Head Coach Jordi Fernandez is entering his second season with the Nets. Went 26-56 in his first season overall as an NBA Head Coach (.317 Win%).
Last season, the Brooklyn Nets found themselves in a familiar place where they have been quite a few times in their NBA history dating back to their time in New Jersey and in New York. A team in transition. Last season, they went through a plethora of different starting lineups and were in constant search of an identity on both ends. The result, finishing in the bottom half in both offensively and defensively in the league a season ago. They did show flashes of promise where they were a Top 10 offense in the early portion of the 2024-25 campaign and followed that by having the league’s top rated defense for four weeks before the All-Star break. With an NBA-record five rookie First-Round picks in the fold; the acquisition of a couple of veterans; and a dynamic scorer looking to get paid next summer, the goal for the Nets in 2025-26 is to establish a true identity at both ends of the hardwood with the challenge of building solid foundational habits while also being in the best position for a high draft pick in the NBA Draft Lottery in early spring of 2026.
The Nets opened 2024-25 with a 9-10 mark over their first 19 games. This is as close as the Nets would get to the .500 mark as they closed last season 17-46 their final 63 games, including posting a 5-15 mark their final 20 games. This closing stretch also consisted of a season-high two seven-game losing streaks (Jan. 15-27, 2025 & Feb. 24-Mar. 8, 2025).
During this stretch, which included those two seven-game slides, the Nets blew a 17-point lead in back-to-back losses on Mar. 6, 2025 versus the Golden State Warriors (121-119) and Mar. 8, 2025 (105-102) at the Charlotte Hornets.
At 20-34 following a victory (100-96) Feb. 12, 2025 versus the Philadelphia 76ers, the Nets were 3.5 games back of the No. 10 Chicago Bulls (22-31) for the No. 10 and final Play-In spot in the East.
Also during this stretch, the Nets went 7-3 (Jan. 29-Feb. 24, 2025) with two of those three losses coming against the Wizards (Feb. 5, 2025-119-102 versus WAS & Feb. 24, 2025-102-99 @ WAS).
The Nets went just 6-22 their final 28 games of last season, rattling off a three-game losing streak (Mar. 11-15, 2025); a six-game losing streak (Mar. 18-28, 2025); a two-game losing streak (Apr. 3-6, 2025); and a three-game losing streak (Apr. 10-13, 2025).
The Nets 26-56 mark in 2024-25 was their worst since going 20-62 in 2016-17, their second of three-year postseason absence (2016-18).
They went just 3-13 against the Atlantic Division; just 14-37 versus the Eastern Conference and just 12-19 against the Western Conference in 2024-25.
In a season with very few bright spots on the surface, one of the few for the Nets a season ago was they won two more games away from home than the previous season.
After going 12-29 away from Barclays Center, the Nets went 14-27 on the road in 2024-25. They opened last season winning their first four road games at Western Conference opponents for the first time in their history and were 6-1 on the road against the opposite conference to start 2024-25.
One of those victories was an 18-point deficit overcome in the third quarter where the Nets authored their largest comeback victory last season in winning 128-120 Nov. 25, 2024 at the Golden State Warriors.
It was downhill after that for the Nets, going just 2-10 their last 12; 6-15 their last 21 on the road.
Nets During Their Six-Game West Coast Road Trip (Jan. 10-19, 2025)
Jan. 10, 2025 (124-105) Loss @ Denver Nuggets: Nikola Jokic and Russell Westbrook (SAC) each posted a triple-double.
Jan. 12, 2025 (112-111) OT Loss @ Utah Jazz: Outscored 17-4 To Close Regulation, Forcing Overtime.
Jan. 14, 2025 (132-114) Win @ Portland Trail Blazers: 4th Largest Margin Of Victory To That Point Of Last Season.
Jan. 15, 2025 (126-67) Loss @ Los Angeles Clippers: 59-Point Defeat, The Largest Margin Of Defeat Of Last Season And For A Single-Game In Franchise History.
Jan. 17, 2025 (102-101) Loss @ Los Angeles Lakers: Former And Eventual Once Again Player D’Angelo Russell Missed Game-Winning Three-Pointer With 04.6 Seconds Left.
Jan. 19, 2025 (127-101) Loss @ Eventual NBA Champion Oklahoma City Thunder: 4th Largest Margin Of Defeat Of Last Season.
That road road mark was slightly better than their 12-29 mark at home a season ago, going 1-4 their final 5; 1-7 their final eight; 2-12 their final 14; and 6-13 their final 19 games at Barclays Center in 2024-25.
Even with their dismal season in 2024-25, the Nets still had a solid attendance record when they played in front of their fans at Barclays Center, with an average audience of 17,384. That is a 97 percent capacity the Nets had for their home games last season, which included 24 sellouts.
The Nets had over 700,000-plus attendance for home games for the sixth time since moving to Brooklyn, NY from East Rutherford, NJ before the 2012-14 NBA campaign. They only achieved that mark once in their 25 seasons (1977-2012) as the New Jersey Nets.
While he played sparingly in 2024-25 because of injury, when Cam Thomas (24.0 ppg-tied career-high, 5.5 apg-Career-High, 42.4 FG%, 23.1 3-Pt.%) did play, he displayed his uncanny ability to score from everywhere on the hardwood, en route to averaging 20-plus points for the third straight season, while improving as a playmaker/facilitator and getting to the foul line consistently
Cam Thomas Last GP GS PPG APG FG% 3-Pt% 3-Pt. FT% FT Att.
2 Seasons W/Nets 2023-24 66 51 22.5 2.9 44.2% 36.4% 144/396 85.6% 6.0
2024-25 25 23 24.0 3.8 43.8% 34.9% 68/195 88.1% 7.8
Of the 27 games Thomas, a late First-Round pick (No. 27 overall 2021) out of Louisiana State University (LSU) played, he had six games with 30-plus points, with four of those six coming on the road. That gave Thomas 27 career 30-plus points games in his first five seasons with the Nets, all before age 23.
Most Career 30-Plus Point Games *Bernard King 35 Cam Thomas 27
Before Age 23 In Nets History Stephon Marbury 35 D’Angelo Russell 27
*Hall Of Famer
In the Nets’ win (120-112) at the Bulls, Thomas scored 32 points in 32 minutes with four assists on 11/23 from the field, making four three-pointers (4/11 3-Pt.; 6/7 FTs).
In the Nets 124-122 setback at the inner-city rival New York Knicks in NBA Emirates Cup Group Game Nov. 15, 2024, Thomas scored a season-high 43 points with three assists on 16/22 from the floor, including 7/10 from three-point range (4/6 FTs). This was his ninth career 40-plus point game.
Most Career 40-Plus Points *Vince Carter 17 John Williamson 8 Mike Newlin 4
Games In Nets NBA History Kyrie Irving 14 Mikal Bridges 6 D’Angelo Russell 3
(Top 13) *Hall Of Famer Kevin Durant 10 Bernard King 5 Devin Harris 3
Cam Thomas 9 Stephon Marbury 4 Kenny Anderson 3
James Harden, Caris LeVert, Deron Williams, and Richard Jefferson two 40-plus point games each.
Thomas played in 19 out of the first 34 games for the Nets in 2024-25 and averaged 24.7 points on 44.8 percent from the floor and 37.5 percent from three-point range.
He injured his left hamstring in the Nets aforementioned comeback win in late November 2025 at the Warriors and missed the next 13 games (Nov. 27-Dec. 27, 2024). The Nets went 4-9 without him..
Thomas returned Dec. 29 2024, a Nets’ loss (102-101) at the Orlando Magic, where he scored 25 points with five assists and six rebounds on just 6/18 from the floor and 3/7 from three, and 10/11 at the foul line in 25 minutes off the bench. He missed the New Year’s Day loss by the Nets (130-113) at the Raptors, his 14th missed game out of the last 16.
Thomas scored 24 points with seven rebounds and two steals (8/22 FGs-2/11 3-Pt.; 6/6 FTs) in the Nets 113-110 triumph at the Milwaukee Bucks. However, he re-injured that left hamstring and missed the next 24 games. The Nets went 8-16 (Jan. 4-Feb., 26, 2025) in those contests without their dynamic scorer.
He made his second return from his second long absence with 16 points in 21 minutes (7/17 FGs-0/4 3-Pt.) in the Nets loss (121-102) versus the Trail Blazers on Feb. 28, 2025. He played in six out of the next eight games.
In the Nets’ loss (127-113) at the San Antonio Spurs Mar. 4, 2025, Thomas had 24 points and six assists (8/19 FGs-4/13 3-Pt.). Two nights later when the Nets fell 121-119 versus the Warriors, Thomas had 23 points and a season-high tying seven assists (8/23 FGs-3/9 3-Pt.). The 13 assists over this two-game span tied his career-best over a two-game span.
In what would be his final game of 2024-25, a Nets loss (116-110) at the Bulls, Thomas had his first career double-double with 24 points and 10 assists with six boards. He shot just 8/23 from the floor, including 3/9 on his triple tries (5/6 FTs). Unfortunately, he re-aggravated that left hamstring strain and would be on the shelf the final 16 games of last season. The Nets concluded 4-12 without Thomas (Mar. 15-Apr. 13, 2025).
Outside of Thomas, the most recognizable Nets player and the longest tenured is center Nic Claxton (10.3 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 56.3 FG%), who had an underwhelming 2024-25 after posting consecutive strong seasons prior following his first three seasons where he was in the infancy of being an impactful NBA player.
In his first three seasons, Claxton started a total of 20 games, with 19 of those 20 starts being authored in 2021-22 (1 Start 2020-21). He also during these first three seasons totaled five double-doubles, with four of the five coming also in 2021-22.
Nic Claxton Past 2022-23: 12.6 PPG-Career-Hi, 9.2 RPG,
3 Seasons W/Nets 2.5 BPG-Career-High 70.5 FG%-Led NBA
28 Double-Doubles- Then Career-High (76 Start).
2023-24: 11.8 PPG, 9.9 RPG-Career-High; 2.1 BPG
62.9 FG%; 30-Double-Doubles-New Career-High.
(71 Starts).
2024-25: 10.3 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 1.4 BPG, 56.3 FG%
13 Double-Doubles. (62 Starts).
On July 6, 2024, the Nets re-signed Claxton on a reported four-year, $100 million deal.
Last season, Claxton had his high points and some low points as well.
The highs consist of registering 15 games with two-plus blocks over the final 30 games to close out 2024-25, bringing his total to 153 such games.
Most Games With Brook Lopez 275 Derrick Coleman 159
2-Plus Block Shots In Buck Williams 179 Nic Claxton 153
Nets History (Top 4)
From Feb. 12-Mar. 8, 2025, Claxton registered nine consecutive games with two-plus offensive boards and two-plus assists, tied with former Nets star Michael Ray Richardson.
Longest Streaks With 2-Plus Tim McCormick 11 1987-88
Offensive Rebounds and 2-Plus Derrick Coleman 10 1992-93 & 1994-95
Assists In Nets History Nic Claxton 9 2024-25
Michael Ray Richardson 9
In the Nets’ triumph (118-113) loss versus the Milwaukee Bucks, Claxton had 21 points and 10 rebounds with two steals and three blocks on 9/14 shooting (3/3 FTs). This was his first career 20/10 (points/rebounds) performance with multiple steals and blocks.
Most Career Block Shot Leaders (Top 6) Nets History
Brook Lopez 972 Buck Williams 696 Derrick Coleman 559
George Johnson 863 Mike Gminski 599 Nic Claxton 534
In two victories in a 10-day span against the 76ers, Claxton really played well on both ends. He had 13 points with 11 boards with five blocks (5/12 FGs; 3/4 FTs) in the 100-96 victory at the Sixers Feb. 12, 2025. On Feb. 22, 2025 in the Nets 105-103 close win at the 76ers, Claxton scored 16 with nine rebounds and another five rejections (7/11 FGs; 2/3 FTs).
These two games by Claxton were part of the 31 total block shots he had (Feb. 1-Apr. 13, 2025), the most to close this span in “The Association.” Those games against the 76ers were two of three games where he had five-plus block shots. No other player had more than one such game to close 2024-25.
Career Double-Double Leaders (Top 10) In Nets History
Buck Williams 248 Brook Lopez 117 Sam Bowie 86 Nic Claxton 74
Jason Kidd 223 Jayson Williams 94 Mike Gminski 86
Derrick Coleman 207 Kenny Anderson 93 Keith Van Horn 80
In the Nets’ 121-119 loss Mar. 6, 2025, Claxton had eight points, nine rebounds, and 10 assists-a new career-high and a single-game franchise record by a starting center in Nets history, surpassing the nine-assist game by Mike Gminski Mar. 22, 1986.
Claxton displayed his skills as a facilitator in the Nets aforementioned loss in the middle of March 2025 (116-110) at the Bulls where he had 18 points and 14 rebounds with five assists on 8/13 from the floor (2/4 FTs).
The Nets coaching staff also has been working on Claxton on his three-point shot a season ago. After going 3/19 on his triple tries his first five seasons (241 Games), Claxton went 5/21 on his triple tries in 2024-25.
Nic Claxton’s Tough Moments In 2024-25
Oct. 27, 2024 (120-116 Loss) @ ATL: Ejected For Clotheslining G-Dyson Daniels, Receiving Flagrant 2 Foul-2 Points.
Dec. 1 2024 (100-92 Loss) Versus ORL: Picked Up A Flagrant 2 Foul on F-Franz Wagner-2 Points.
Dec. 19, 2024 (101-94 Loss) @ TOR: Ejected 2nd Quarter For Throwing The Ball Into The Stands, Getting Fined $25,000 For His Actions.
Jan. 27, 2025 (110-96) Loss Versus SAC: Flagrant 1 Foul On C-Domantas Sabonis-1 Point.
Feb. 24, 2025 (107-99 Loss) @ WAS: Flagrant Foul on F-Justin Champagnie-1 Point led to a one-game suspension.
In continuing to re-shape the Nets roster, GM Sean Marks in a deal with the Warriors on Dec. 15, 2024 acquired guards in veteran De’Anthony Melton and youngster Reece Beekman, and a 2026 Second-Round pick (via ATL) and a 2028 Second-Round pick (via ATL) and the Warriors 2029 Second-Round pick in exchange for veteran lead guard Dennis Schroder.
In a deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, the Nets acquired veteran guard D’Angelo Russell along with young forward Maxwell Lewis along with the Lakers 2027, 2030, and 2031 Second-Round picks.
On Feb. 19, 2025, veteran sharp-shooting forward Bojan Bogdanovic had season-ending surgery on his left foot. He was acquired on July 6, 2024 from the Knicks. Bogdanovic was eventually waived on Feb. 20, 2025.
After saying goodbye to Bogdanovic, the Nets signed former First-Round pick by the Detroit Pistons in guard Killian Hayes to a two-way contract and signed G Leaguer in guard Tyrese Martin to a standard NBA deal after initially bringing him in also on a two-way contract.
The bigger news the Nets made in terms of roster moves was the conclusion of the Ben Simmons experiment buying him out of the remainder of his contract.
Back on Feb. 10, 2022, two years and two days to the moment, Simmons along with veterans in center Andre Drummond, and sharp-shooter Seth Curry were acquired from the 76ers in exchange for perennial All-Star and 2017-18 Kia MVP James Harden and fellow perennial All-Star Paul Millsap.
Simmons was supposed to be the missing piece of the Nets championship puzzle alongside superstars and former NBA champions Kevin Duranta and Kyrie Irving,
While Drummond and Curry handled things on their end as role players, Simmons spent more time in street clothes then on the court for the Nets because of a lingering nerve impingement in his lower back that eventually required surgery. He also had calf, hip, and leg issues.
The former No. 1 overall pick in 2016 by the Sixers out of LSU, who amassed Kia Rookie of the Year (2018); All-Rookie First Team (2018); 3-Time All-Star (2019-21); and All-NBA Third-Team (2020) made $124 million with the Nets and played only 90 out of a possible 250 games.
When Simmons was on the hardwood, he displayed the incredible court vision and defensive prowess that made him one of the most dynamic two-way players in the league. But his scoring ability and willingness to even look at the hoop completely disappeared ever since the 2021 Playoffs in Game 7 when he was right at the hoop for a possible score, he passed it off to then teammate Matisse Thybulle because Simmons did not want to go to the foul line, where he has struggled for his entire career.
Simmons in 33 games (24 starts) with the Nets in 2024-25 averaged in 25 minutes 6.2 points, 6.9 assists, 5.2 rebounds on 54.7 percent from the floor, 69.2 percent at the foul line. He was one of five players last season in the Eastern Conference to average five-plus rebounds and six-plus assists, joining Jayson Tatum (BOS), Josh Giddey (CHI), Scottie Barnes (TOR), and Cade Cunningham (DET).
From Jan. 10-17, 2025 on their four-game West Coast road trip, Simmons totaled 34 assists. This included a two-game stretch (Jan. 12-14, 2025) totaled 20 assists and just four turnovers, his second such stretch over a two-game span of his career.
Over a nine-game span (Dec. 21, 2024-Jan. 17, 2025), Simmons averaged 8.3 assists, No. 5 in the league over this span.
NBA Assists Leaders (Dec. 21, 2024 Trae Young (ATL) 27.2 PPG, 10.9 APG
Jan. 17, 2025) Over This 9-Game Nikola Jokic (DEN) 29.4 PPG, 13.5 RPG, 9.9 APG
Span (Top 6) Tyrese Halliburton (IND) 18.4 PPG, 9.1 APG
Cade Cunningham (DET) 25.4 PPG, 8.9 APG, 4.9 RPG
LeBron James (LAL) 26.4 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 6.5 APG
Ben Simmons (BKN) 7.8 PPG, 8.3 APG, 5.0 RPG
The plethora of changes the Nets made to their roster opened up playing time for the likes of youngsters in Drew Timme, Trendon Watford, Keon Johnson, Dariq Whitehead, and Tosan Evbuomwan, who showed well when they earned the confidence of Coach Hernandez.
Coach Hernandez also found playing time for the likes Ziaire Williams (10.0 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 41.2 FG%, 34.1 3-Pt.%), Jalen Wilson (9.5 ppg, 39.7 FG%, 33.7 3-Pt.%), Noah Clowney (9.1 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 35.8 FG%, 33.3 3-Pt.%), Tyrese Martin (8.7 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 40.6 FG%, 35.1 3-Pt% and Day-Ron Sharpe (7.9 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 52.0 FG%).
After flaming out after three seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies, Williams, a former Lottery pick (No. 10 overall) in 2021 out of Stanford University who averaged just 7.5 points and 2.6 rebounds (42.6 FG%, 30.1 3-Pt.%), Williams averaged career-highs in scoring and rebounding making a career-high 103 triples (103/302 3-Pt.), and registered two of his three career double-doubles.
In the Nets’ previously mentioned triumph in late Nov. 2025 at the Warriors, Williams had his second career double-double with 19 points and 10 boards with four assists, and two steals (6/11 FGs-2/3 3-Pt.; 5/6 FTs).
Williams’ third career double-double came in the Nets close loss (129-121) versus the eventual NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder with 18 points and 10 rebounds (6/15 FGs) on 5/13 from three-point range.
He registered eight games with four-plus made triples after compiling five such games in his first 150 career games in “The Association.” His 85 made threes (Jan. 1-Apr. 13, 2025) was the second most to close 2024-25, behind only the aforementioned Keon Johnson (88/268 3-Pt.).
In a career-high 45 starts last season with the Nets, Williams averaged 11.2 points and 4.9 boards (41.4 FG%, 35.8 3-Pt.%) on 5.5 three-point attempts (88/246 3-Pt.).
After an underwhelming rookie season in 2023-24, Wilson earned major minutes, going from 15.5 to 25.7 in his sophomore season in the NBA.
He really showed signs of growth at the start of 2025 averaging in January (16 Games) 10.3 points and 3.6 rebounds despite having a shooting accuracy of 37.4 percent from the floor (58/155 FGs) and 25.9 percent on his triple tries 21/81 3-Pt.) on 5.9 attempts.
In the final four games of last season (April 2025), Wilson, a Second-Round pick in 2023 (No. 51 overall) out of University of Kansas, Wilson averaged 15.3 points and 5.3 rebounds on 47.6 percent from the field and 51.5 percent from three (17/33 3-Pt.) on 8.3 attempts.
In the Nets’ win (110-98) at the Houston Rockets, Wilson scored 13 with seven boards (5/9 FGs-1/3 3-Pt.; 2/3 FTs).
Wilson scored a season-high 20 points with seven rebounds (5/9 FGs), going 4/7 on his triple tries (6/6 FTs) in the Nets triumph (115-112) Mar. 29, 2025 at the Washington Wizards.
Clowney too had a quiet start to his NBA career in 2023-24. Like Wilson, Clowney, a late 2023 First-Round pick (No. 21 overall) out of University of Alabama battled through injuries that shelved him for 36 games last season. But when he found his footing, he showed he can really be impactful in this modern NBA who can score inside and out.
In the Nets’ Nov. 11, 2024 victory (107-105), Clowney scored 15 points with seven boards going 5/10 from three-point range.
On Nov. 24, 2025, Clowney had 18 points on 5/8 on his triple tries (3/4 FTs) in the Nets’ 108-103 triumph at the Sacramento Kings.
In the Nets’ 111-105 victory Dec. 26, 2024 at the Bucks, Clowney scored a then season-high 20 points on 7/10 from the floor, including 6/9 on his triple tries.
In the early portion of 2025, Clowney had the best scoring night of his young NBA career with a career-high of 29 points with six boards and two steals on 9/20 from the floor, including 5/11 from three (6/6 FTs) in the Nets’ 113-98 loss versus the Detroit Pistons.
Six days later in the Nets’ dominant 132-114 triumph at the Trail Blazers, Clowney had his fourth career 20-point game with five boards and two steals on 7/10 from the floor, including 4/7 from three-point range.
After barely getting a sniff of the hardwood with the Hawks in 2022-23, Tyrese Martin after building himself up in the NBA G League, Martin was signed by the Nets on Sept. 20 2024 to a training camp deal that was converted to a two-way deal.
In his first chance to make an impression on the Nets, he made a real loud one Nov. 27, 2024 scoring a career-high of 30 points on 10/13 from the field, including 8/10 from three (⅔ FTs). The eight made threes also set a career-high and those 30 points set a single-game franchise record by a player on a two-way contract.
In early January 2025, Martin posted his first career double-double with 12 points and 10 boards in the Nets 113-98 loss versus Pistons.
Just before the unofficial start to the second half of last season, Martin had his two-way deal converted to a standard contract on Feb. 19, 2025.
In the Nets aforementioned loss in the middle of March 2025, Martin scored 19 on 7/13 from the floor, including 5/8 on his triple tries.
Three days later in the Nets 122-114 triumph versus the Hawks, Martin scored 16 with six boards (6/13 FGs-3/7 3-Pt.).
Martin scored 20 with five boards and four assists on 7/11 from the floor, including 3/5 from three-point range (3/4 FTs) in the Nets 115-112 victory Mar. 29, 2025 at the Wizards.
His fourth 20-plus point game of 2024-25 came in the season-finale on Apr. 13, 2025 where Martin scored 20 on the nose with seven boards on 8/14 from the floor-(2/6 3-Pt.) in the Nets’ 113-105 loss versus the New York Knicks.
Four summers back, the Nets drafted Sharpe No. 29 overall in the 2021 NBA Draft and through hard work and focus has become a solid reserve off the bench.
Day’Ron Sharpe GP GS PPG RPG FG% Dbl-Dbls
First 4 NBA 2021-22 32 8 6.2 5.0 57.7% 2
Seasons 2022-23 48 3 4.7 4.2 54.4% 2
2023-24 61 1 6.8 6.4 57.1% 6
2024-25 50 2 7.9 6.6 52.0% 4
Sharpe’s In Feb. 26, 2025 (129-121 Loss) Versus OKC: 25 Points-Career-High
2 Starts In 15 Rebounds, 5 Assists, 3 Blocks, 8/10 FGs-(2/3 3-Pt.), 7/7 FTs.
2024-25 Mar. 15, 2025 (115-113 Loss) Versus BOS: 9 Points, 16 Rebounds, 5 Assists
(4/10 FGs).
Last 6 Nets Players Derrick Coleman Apr. 4, 1993 *Vince Carter Apr. 7, 2007
25/15/5 (Points/ Richard Jefferson Nov. 5, 2004 Kevin Durant Oct. 22, 2021
Rebounds/Assists) *Jason Kidd Apr. 13, 2005 Kevin Durant Dec. 28, 2022
Game Day’Ron Sharp Feb. 26, 2025
For seven straight games (Feb. 1-20, 2025), Sharpe had two-plus offensive boards and two-plus assists, the longest such streak since Chris Morris did it (Dec. 1994-Jan. 1995).
With a single-season franchise record 44 unique starting lineups, and 46 different starting lineups used in 2024-25, including 10 different starting quintets (Nov. 19-Dec. 8, 2024), the Nets had their offensive struggles a season ago.
While they ranked No. 10 in bench points per game (38.7); No. 11 in free throw percentage; No. 8 in three-point attempts (39.4) and No. 13 in threes-pointers made (13.6), the Nets were in the Bottom 10 in other major offensive categories.
They were next to last in field goal percentage at No. 29 (43.7%); No. 25 in three-point percentage (34.4%); No. 23 in free throw attempts (20.7) and fastbreak points per game (14.3); No. 23 in turnovers per contest (15.2); No. 28 in paint points per game (43.5); No. 22 in Second Chance Points per contest (13.0); No. 18 in offensive boards per game (10.9); and No. 28 in point per game differential (-8.8).
Charlotte Hornets: 19-63 (5th Southeast Division; No. 15 East); 12-29 at home, 7-34 on the road.
-105.1 ppg-30th; 114.2 Opp. ppg-16th; 45.2 rpg-9th
Head Coach Charles Lee entering his second season with the Hornets: Went 19-63 in his first season as an NBA Head Coach (.232 Win%).
For four straight seasons, the Charlotte Hornets have seen their win total drop as injuries to key members of their rotation, particularly their dynamic lead guard and his backcourt mate. It added to the boys from the “Queen City” streak of missing the Playoffs to nine straight, the longest active such drought in the Eastern Conference and the NBA. With the additions through this past June’s draft and the veterans additions via trade and free agency, the goal for the Hornets is to play meaningful basketball in March and April 2026 and seek to end this long postseason drought with the challenge to remain healthy and to be balanced on both ends.
After a 4-5 start to 2024-25 under new head coach Charles Lee, the Hornets went 15-58 the remainder of last season.
Hornets Losing 2 Straight: Oct. 25-26, 2024; Nov. 10-12, 2024; Nov. 17-19, 2024
Streaks In Jan. 22-23, 2025; Mar. 16-18, 2025
2024-25 3 Straight: Nov. 1-4, 2024; Feb. 10-12, 2025
5 Straight: Mar. 21-30, 2025
6 Straight: Jan. 27-Feb. 5, 2025
7 Straight: Apr. 2-13, 2025
8 Nov. 25-Dec. 7, 2024
9 Straight: Feb. 20-Mar. 7, 2025
10 Straight: Dec. 13, 2024-Jan. 5, 2025
The Hornets closed 2024-25 going 3-9 their last 12; 5-16 their last 21 at home. Their 12-29 mark the Hornets had a Spectrum Center tied the Nets and 76ers for the third worst home mark in “The Association” a season ago.
The 12-29 Hornets mark at home 2024-25 tied the 1988-89 first expansion squad for the third worst for a season in their history, behind their 11-30 mark in 2023-24 and their 4-29 mark at home in the 2011-12 lockout shortened season and worst in NBA history.
It did not get any better for the Hornets on the road, where they closed last season with nine straight on the road, with seven of the nine losses by double-digits. They went 2-10 their last 12; 2-16 their last 18; and 3-18 their last 21 on the road.
Their 7-34 mark tied the New Orleans Pelicans and the Utah Jazz for the worst mark away from home in 204-25. It was also the Hornets fifth worst road record in a season in their history.
Hornets 5 Worst Road Records 2011-12: 3-30 2012-13 & 1989-90: 6-35
For A Season In Their History 2004-05: 4-37 2024-25: 7-34
Last season, the Hornets went 11-30 against sub .500 teams and 8-33 against teams with a .500 record or better. They only registered one victory, a 1-15 mark against the Southeast Division. Went an abysmal 10-42 against the Eastern Conference and 9-21 against the Western Conference.
The Hornets last season were once again led by dynamic lead guard LaMelo Ball (25.2 ppg-career-high, 7.4 apg, 4.9 rpg, 40.5 FG%, 33.9 3-Pt.%, 84.3 FT%), who for the third straight season where he averaged at least 20/5/5 (points/rebounds/assists).
Ever since he came into the league as the No. 3 overall pick in 2020, he has dazzled as a playmaker and shotmaker. That was especially true last season being just one of six players in 2024-25 to average 25-plus points and seven-plus assists, joining two-time Kia MVP Nikola Jokic (DEN), and fellow All-Stars in Cade Cunningham (DET), Jalen Brunson (NYK), Devin Booker (PHX).
Ball since entering the NBA has garnered NBA 2020-21 Kia Rookie of the Year as well as 2020-21 NBA All-Rookie First Team. The next season in 2021-22 earned his first All-Star selection.
The main issue for Ball in his first five NBA seasons where he has played 70-plus games only once, playing 75 games (2021-22), his lone All-Star selection as just mentioned. This was the lone season where he posted career-highs for a season of 23 double-doubles and five of his 10 career triple-doubles.
Other Double-Double 2020-21: 7 2023-24: 7
Seasons By Ball 2022-23: 17 2024-25: 13
Games Missed By 2020-21: 21 2022-23: 46 2024-25: 35
Season By Ball 2021-22: 7 2023-24: 60
Hornets Record 2022-23: 13-23 W/Ball (14-32 W/O Ball)
Past Three Seasons 2023-24: 7-15 W/Ball (14-46 W/O Ball)
2024-25: 16-31 W/Ball (3-32 W/O Ball)
To put how much of an issue Ball’s health has been so far in his NBA career, he was the only of the aforementioned All-Star guards to average at least 25/7 (points/assists) a season ago to play fewer than 50 games.
Because of constant leg and ankle issues, Ball last season missed 35 games, including the final 10 games of 2024-25 because of surgery on his ankle and wrist.
When Ball was able to be on the floor a season ago, he registered 35 20-plus point games and 15 30-plus point games, including six 30-point double-doubles.
He was the first in franchise history to open a season with a 30/10 (points/assists) game in a season opener with 34 points and 11 assists with eight boards on 10/20 shooting, including 4/12 from three and 10/10 at the foul line in the Hornets 110-105 victory at the Rockets.
Two nights later, Ball had 34 points with five boards also on 10/20 shooting, including 9/14 on his triple tries (5/6 FTs) and 10 turnovers before fouling out in 29 minutes in the Hornets 125-120 defeat at the Hawks.
Ball had the best scoring night of his career with 50 points with 10 assists and five boards on 17/38 from the floor, including 6/17 from three and 10/13 at the charity stripe. But the Hornets lost (125-119) Nov. 23, 2024 at the Bucks.
He on this night became the third youngest player in NBA history to score 50 points in a game with 10 assists at 23 years, 93 days old. Ball trails only LeBron James (LAL), who had 50 points and 10 assists Mar. 5, 2008 at Knicks with the Cavaliers at 23 years, 168 days and Kevin Porter, Jr. (MIL), who had 50 points and 11 assists Apr. 29, 2021 versus the Bucks with the Rockets at 20 years, 360 days.
Ball scored 44 points with seven assists, and nine rebounds (4 fouls) with seven turnovers on 17/30 from the field-(4/11 3-Pt.; 6/8 FTs) in the Hornets 95-84 loss versus the Orlando Magic.
From Nov. 21, 2024-Jan. 7, 2025, Ball scored 30-plus in a stretch of eight out of 10 games, but the Hornets went 2-8 over this span.
Following a solid rookie season in 2023-24 after being selected No. 2 overall, forward Brandon Miller (21.0 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 3.6 apg, 40.3 FG%, 35.5 3-Pt.%) continued his development as a dynamic shooter and driver to the hoop.
Miller 3-Pt. First 3-Pt. 3-Pt.% 3-Pt. Att.
Two NBA Seasons 2023-24 184/493 37.3% 6.7
2024-25 104/293 35.5% 10.9
10-Point Games By 2023-24: 65 20-Point Games By 2023-24: 29
Season By Miller 2024-25: 25 Season By Miller 2024-25: 16
30-Point Games By 2023-24: 4
Season By Miller 2024-25: 4
Miller from Nov. 19-Dec. 13, 2024 posted 12 straight games with 20-plus points, including four of his 30-plus point games in 2024-25 came in this stretch as well as two of his three career double-doubles.
He scored a career-high 38 points with seven boards and four steals with seven turnovers on 15/26 from the floor, including 8/12 on his triple tries in the Hornets 123-121 triumph in overtime versus the Pistons.
In the Hornets aforementioned loss in late November 2024 at the Bucks, Miller had his first 30/10 (points/rebounds) game of his career with 32 points and 11 boards on 11/23 from the field, and 6/13 from three (4/4 FTs).
Two nights later, Miller had 20 points and 10 boards (6/17 FGs-2/7 3-Pt.; 6/7 FTs) in the Hornets previously mentioned loss versus Hornets.
What slowed down Miller’s progress last season was injury. He missed four straight games Oct. 25-Nov. 1, 2024) due to a strained glute. He missed seven out of eight games (Dec. 19, 2024-Jan. 3, 2025) with a left ankle sprain. His season reached a conclusion due to season-ending surgery on a torn scapholanate ligament in his left wrist that shelved him the final 45 games of 2024-25.
Back in 2022-23, then Hornets headliner Miles Bridges missed all of the 2022-23 season being suspended due to a domestic violence incident involving his then girlfriend Mychelle Johnson and mother of their two children.
Bridges (20.3 ppg, 7.5 rpg-career-high, 3.9 apg-career-high, 43.1 FG%, 31.3 3-Pt.%) has returned and picked up where he left off averaging 20-plus points, over seven boards, and at least three assists with four free throw attempts over the past three seasons played.
After registering four of his first five career double-doubles in his second NBA season (2019-20), Bridges has totaled 11, 15, 19, and 14 double-doubles in each of his last four seasons played.
Bridges also in 2024-25, totaled 36 20-plus point games, including seven 30-plus point games, including two 30-plus point double-doubles.
He posted his first career triple-double with 24 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists (9/21 FGs-2/7 3-Pt.; 4/4 FTs) in the Hornets 124-114 setback Feb. 3, 2025 versus the Washington Wizards.
Bridges nearly posted his second career triple-double with 36 points and 13 boards with seven assists, and three steals (12/23 FGs-5/10 3-Pt.; 7/7 FTs) in the Hornets 129-115 loss at the Denver Nuggets on Feb. 20, 2025.
He totaled a season-high 46 points with eight boards and two steals (15/32 FGs-4/10 3-Pt.; 12/13 FTs) but the Hornets lost 118-117 Mar. 7, 2025 versus the Cavaliers.
Bridges In Pre All-Star: 19.5 PPG, 7.7 RPg, 3.8 APG, 43.1 FG%, 30.2 3-Pt.%
2024-25 (77/255 3-Pt.), 32.1 MPG
Post All-Star: 21.5 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 4.0 APG, 43.0 FG%, 32.8 3-Pt.%
(64/195 3-Pt.), 31.0 MPG
Two players that the Hornets were really counting on last season to help turn things around were Tre Mann (14.1 ppg-career-high, 43.5 FG%, 40.0 3-Pt.%) and veteran Grant Williams (10.4 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 43.9 FG%, 36.5 3-Pt.%).
Unfortunately for both players, their seasons came to an abrupt end early with season-ending injuries.
Mann, who came over via trade in 2023-24 from the Thunder missed 75 out of the last 78 games, including the final 67 (Nov. 23, 2024-Apr. 13, 2025) with disc herniation in his back.
Williams, who was acquired from the Celtics Feb. 8, 2024 along with a 2027 Second-Round pick in exchange for forward P.J. Washington and two future Second-Round picks was lost for the remainder of 2024-25 after suffering a torn ACL in his right knee on a drive to the hoop late in the fourth quarter in the Hornets previously mentioned loss at the Bucks. He missed the final 66 games.
In seven starts in 2024-25, Williams averaged 11 points and 5.7 rebounds on 44.6 percent from the floor and 39.3 percent on his triple tries (11/28 3-Pt.).
Back in early February 2025, the Hornets and Los Angeles Lakers trade were center Mark Williams was supposed to be headed to the West Coast in exchange for rookie sharp-shooting forward Dalton Knecht, forward/guard Cam Reddish, and 2030 and 2031 First-Round picks was rescinded because Williams failed his physical examination.
The Hornets did execute a trade on Jan. 15, 2025 when they acquired forward/guard Josh Okogie along with a 2026 Second-Round pick (via DEN) and a 2031 Second-Round pick from the Suns in exchange for center Nick Richards and a 2025 Second-Round pick.
In early February 2025 (Feb. 3, 2025), the Hornets in a deal with the Thunder acquired the Suns 2029 Second-Round pick in exchange for the Nuggets 2030 conditional 2030 Second-Round pick.
At the Feb. 6, 2025 NBA Trade Deadline, the Hornets in another deal with the Suns acquired center Jusuf Nurkic and a 2026 First-Round pick in exchange for forward Cody Martin, reserve guard Vaslije Micic, and a 2026 Second-Round pick.
With the injuries and all the other maneuvers made by the Hornets front office, it opened up playing time for youngsters in guard KJ Simpson (7.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 34.6 FG%, 25.4 3-Pt.%-33/130 3-Pt.); guard Josh Green (7.4 ppg, 42.8 FG%, 39.1 3-Pt.%), who made a career-high 97 triples (987/248 3-Pt.); and center Moussa Diabate (5.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 59.6 FG%,
Diabate 1st 3 2022-23 (22 Games; 1 Start): 2.7 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 50.0 FG%
Seasons NBA 2023-24: (11 Games): 2.6 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 51.1 FG%,
2024-25: (71 Games; 8 Starts): 5.7 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 59.6 FG%
Diabate’s 7 Career Nov. 12, 2024 (114-89 Loss) NBA Cup Game @ ORL: 12 Points,
Double-Doubles: 15 Rebounds, 3 Blocks, (6/7 FGs
All Came 2024-25 Nov. 16, 2024 (115-114 Win) Versus MIL: 12 Points, 14 Rebounds,
3 Blocks, (6/7 FGs).
Jan. 31, 2025 (112-104 Loss) Versus LAC: 11 Points, 14 Rebounds,
3 Steals, (5/11 FGs).
Feb. 5, 2025 (112-102 Loss) Versus MIL: 10 Points, 13 Rebounds
(2/2 FGs; 6/8 FTs).
Feb. 10, 2025 (97-89 Loss) @ BKN: 21 Points-Career-High,
10 Rebounds, 9/11 FGs (3/6 FTs).
Mar. 8, 2025 (105-102 Win) Versus BKN: 16 Points, 15 Rebounds,
8/12 FGs.
Apr. 4, 2025 (125-102 Loss) Versus SAC: 15 Points, 11 Rebounds
(6/9 FGs (3/4 FTs).
While he spent much of his rookie season with the Greensboro Swarm of NBA G League affiliate for the Hornets, rookie forward Tidjane Salaun (5.9 ppg, 44.7 rpg, 33.0 FG%, 28.3 3-Pt.%-58/205 3-Pt.), the No. 6 overall pick last summer from France showed flashes of true potential.
The now 20-year-old from Paris, France posted his first career double-double Dec. 3, 2024 in NBA Cup Group Play Versus the 76ers with 10 points and 10 rebounds with two steals (4/10 FGs-2/6 3-Pt.).
In the Hornets’ aforementioned loss in the middle of February 2025 at the Nets, Salaun had season-high 16 points with five boards, and two steals (4/10 FGs-2/5 3-Pt.; 6/9 FTs).
Salaun’s second double-double of his rookie season came Mar. 28, 2025 in a loss at the Toronto Raptors with 12 points and 14 rebounds (5/8 FGs; 2/3 FTs).
Last season, the Hornets ranked No. 10 in threes attempted (38.7); No. 6 in offensive boards per contest (12.2); and No. 4 in Second Chance Points per game (16.3).
However the Hornets were No. 30, dead last in field goal percentage (43.5%) and 11.8 in fastbreak points per game (11.8); No. 26 in three-point percentage (34.1%); No. 17 in threes made per game (13.2); No. 25 in free throw attempts (20.1); No. 26 in assists (24.7); No. 18 in turnovers per contest (14.4) and free throw percentage (77.5%); No. 26 in point per game differential (-5.5); and No. 25 in paint points per game (45.0).
Last season, the Hornets were just 19-40 when they scored 100 points or more. While they were 10-9 when they outshot their opponent by field goal percentage, the Hornets were just 5-19 when they had fewer turnovers than their opponent.
The Hornets in 2024-25 scored at least 110 points in 28 Games, with 19 of them coming in the final 59 games of last season. They went 0-19 when they scored under 110 points as part of their 0-23 mark when they scored under 100 points.
As rough as things were offensively for the Hornets a season ago, it was just as rough defensively.
While they ranked No. 8 in opponent’s three-point percentage (35.5%); were No. 10 in Second Chance Points allowed (13.6); and were tied for No. 13 with Warriors in opponent’s free throw attempts (21.4); the Hornets were No. 15 in opponent’s field goal percentage (46.7%); No. 28 in opponent’s threes attempted (40.0); No. 22 in opponent’s threes made (14.2); No. 20 in opponent’s paint points (47.9); No. 24 in opponent’s fastbreak points (16.6); No. 23 in forced turnovers (13.3); No. 26 in steals per game (7.4); No. 21 in block shots (4.5); tied for No. 16 in rebound differential (0.0); and 19.5 opponent’s points off turnovers.
Hornets 3 Straight Feb. 22, 2025 (141-88 Loss) @ POR: Tied Worst Margin Of Defeat
Losses On The On Road In Their History (Lost 135-82 Dec. 16, 2023 Versus PHI)
Road By 30-Plus Feb. 24, 2025 (130-88 Loss) @ SAC
Points Feb. 25, 2025 (128-92 Loss) @ GS
The Hornets became the first team in NBA history to lose three consecutive games by 35-plus points.
Last season, the Hornets were just 15-56 when they allowed 100 points or more and went just 12-23 when they outrebounded their opponent.
The offensive and defensive struggles by the Hornets resulted in them compiling just an 8-7 mark in games decided by three points or less and 5-39 in games decided by 10 points or more. Were only 14-24 in clutch games (games within five points in the final five minutes of fourth quarter/overtime). Were just 11-8 when ahead at intermission (2-1 when tied), and 6-54 when down at the half. While the Hornets were 12-5 when they led after three quarters (0-1 when tied) but just 7-57 when they trailed after three quarters.
Finishing with the third worst record in the league last season, the Hornets along with the Jazz and Wizards finished tied with the top odds for the No. 1 overall pick. The Hornets however earned the No. 4 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery.
In rare games where the Hornets got off to a rough start but eventually found their footing produced seven wins where they overcame a double-digit deficit.
However when the Hornets had things working on both ends and had a lapse in concentration, they suffered six defeats where they blew a lead of at least 10 points.
Over the summer, the front office brass of the Hornets of GM Jeff Peterson and Co-Governors Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall used this offseason to bring in impactful talent to go alongside the team’s young core.
It began in this past June’s draft where the Hornets with the No. 4 overall pick selected sharp-shooting forward/guard Kon Knueppel out of Duke University.
With back-to-back picks in the Second-Round, the Hornets selected swingman Sion Jones, also out of Duke University and center Ryan Kalkbrenner out of Creighton University at No. 33 and No. 34 respectively.
To close out June 2025, the Hornets on June 29, 2025 traded Nurkic to the Jazz and acquired guard Collin Sexton (18.4 ppg, 48.0 FG%, 40.6 3-Pt.% in 63 Games; 61 Starts W/UTA). The next day, the Hornets in a deal with the Suns dealt Mark Williams along with 2029 Second-Round pick, acquiring back guard Vasilije Micic along with the draft rights to forward Liam McNeeley (No. 29 overall pick) out of University of Connecticut, a 2029 First-Round pick.
Micic’s second stint in the “Queen City” was short lived as he was dealt to the Bucks along with a 2031 and 2032 Second-Round pick in exchange for veteran guard Pat Connnaughton (5.3 ppg, 46.9 FG%, 32.1 3-Pt.%-26/81 3-Pt in 41 Games W/MIL).
For a team that simply struggled from three-point range a season ago, the Hornets hope Knueppel, 20 will fill that void.
On route to earning All-ACC Second-Team; ACC All-Freshmen Team; and ACC Tournament MVP in his lone season playing for head coach Jon Scheyer’s Blue Devils, the 6-foot-5, 219-pound forward/guard Knueppel last season averaged 14.4 points on 47.9 percent from the floor and 40.6 percent on his triple tries, including 48 percent on his corner three-point attempts.
Along with being an excellent shooter from his shooting mechanics to catch-and-shoot, and deep triple shooting, Knueppel is an excellent straight line driver, who can also defend; compete for loose balls; is very competitive with a high basketball IQ.
“The big thing is how hard I play on the court. I think that’s a skill,” Knueppel said in giving a self scouting report of his game in his own words. “I’m an efficient player. But I also take pride on both ends of the floor.”
Besides what he brings to the table along with his shooting skills, Knueppel showed he could play well with star players, like he did last season with Blue Devils headliner Cooper Flagg, who he said of Knueppel the “hardest player for him to defend” during practice.
“It was a big spotlight at Duke. Us freshmen didn’t shy away from that and it prepared us for the next level and hopefully that will carry over,” Knueppel said on draft night to ESPN’s Monica McNutt after getting drafted.
The role James had in his loan season at Duke after four seasons (2020-24) at Tulane University was being a solid defender, who brought a level of physicality to the hardwood, who provided the ability to score in the paint off cuts to the hoop offensively. That made up for his inaccuracy shooting wise from the perimeter.
With the trade of Mark Williams, the Hornets looked to fill that void with the drafting of Kalkbrenner, who averaged 19.2 points and 8.7 rebounds with 2.7 blocks and led all of Division I hoops with 107 dunks.
In his four seasons playing for head coach Greg McDermott and the Bluejays, Kalkbrenner was a four-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year recipient (2022-25). The last to do that was Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing for the Georgetown Hoyas and then the late Hall of Fame Head Coach John Thompson.
Kalkbrenner also in his collegiate career was a two-time First-Team All-Big East selection (2023 & 2025) and earned Second-Team All-Big East (2023-24).
In his final season in college in 2024-25, the 7-foot-1 257-pounder earned Third-Team All-American. Was the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award recipient and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Defensive Player of the Year, and made NABC, and United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) Second-Team All-American.
Even with Diabate still in the fold along with the presence of a veteran big man that will be spoken about in a moment, Kalkbreenner has a chance to be manning the middle for the Hornets on both ends for this season and in the future if he can put it all together.
“It’s been great,” Kalkbrenner said back on Oct. 3, 2025 to a reporter from “After the Buzzer” following a practice. “As you go through this draft process, you don’t know what team you are going to end up with. How the guys are going to be like. And I honestly could not be happier with the group I’m with. Like coming in everyday, I don’t always know what I’m doing. But they’ve been so helpful. Helping me get better and improve and I feel much more comfortable because of that. So, it’s been great. It’s been awesome.”
To be one of the best in the league currently when it comes to being a small forward or shooting guard, you need to be able to do a multitude of things from scoring, rebounding, and being able to make plays for your teammates. Being able to play off star players. Providing the ability to make plays in the clutch.
These are the intangibles that McNeeley (14.5 ppg-Led UConn, 6.0 rpg-2nd On UConn, 38.1 FG%, 31.7 3-Pt%, 86.6 FT%) brought to head coach Dan Hurley and the Huskies in his lone season with them.
The 2024 McDonald’s All-American, who grew up in Richardson, TX and initially attended J.J. Pearce High School and then transferred to John Paul II High in Plano, TX following his freshmen year was a versatile forward who played with a level of physicality. Proved more than capable of making shots from the perimeter. Had a willingness to dive on the floor for loose balls. Was an excellent ball mover. Brought his best when the stakes were the highest.
In a game back in February 2025, McNeeley scored 38 points against, ironically enough, Kalkbrenner and Creighton. The game previous to that in a loss to St. John’s McNeeley had 18 points and 11 rebounds.
Last season against Associated Press Top 25 opponents in 2024-25, McNeeley averaged 21 points per contest.
Getting back to his capabilities of being able to mesh his game when on the court with other star talent, McNeeley, following a year John Paul II High as a sophomore transferred to Montverde Academy in Montverde, FL where he played alongside fellow First-Rounders in Cooper Flagg (No. 1 Overall W/DAL), Derik Queen (No. 13 overall W/ATL), and Asa Newell (No. 23 W/ATL) and compiled a 33-0 record in 2023-24 on their way to winning a title.
“This is a dream come true. Regardless of the number I’m picked. I’m in the NBA,” McNeeley said to McNutt after getting drafted back on June 25, 2025.
During his media availability after getting drafted, McNeeley said that he is looking forward to playing against Flagg and Newell, which he said is “going to be amazing.”
On having to wait until being picked late in the First-Round, McNeeley said, “There is no reason to have disappointment. I just got drafted to play in the NBA. Got to give all the glory to God. God has a plan and I’m just trusting in him.”
He also mentioned in his presser that his favorite player growing up was Hall of Famer of the Dallas Mavericks Dirk Nowitzki, who he had a chance to meet once. McNeeley got a chance to be at the championship banner raising to start the 2011-12 season.
“I hope to get to grow that relationship,” McNeeley said when asked by a reporter about possibly meeting Nowitzki again and maybe getting some advice on how to have a great NBA career.
With the departures of veterans in Seth Curry, Jusuf Nurkic, Nick Smith, Jr, and Mark Williams via free agency, trades or just waived, the Hornets aforementioned front office decided to bring in veterans that can not only teach the Hornets youngsters of how to be a pro both on the hardwood, in practice and off the hardwood, but be impactful with their player also.
In a deal with the Jazz, the Hornets dealt Nurkic in exchange for guard Collin Sexton (18.4 ppg, 4.2 apg, 48.0 FG%, 40.6 3-Pt.%-110/271 3-Pt.; 86.5 FT% 63 Games W/UTA).
On July 6, 2025, the Hornets acquired veteran guard Pat Connaughton (5.3 ppg, 46.9 FG%, 32.1 3-Pt.%-26/81 3-Pt. 41 Games W/MIL) in exchange for Micic, 2031 and 2032 Second-Round picks.
On July 13, 2025, the Hornets signed veteran forward/center Mason Plumlee (4.5 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 61.9 FG%, 74 Games/ 21 Starts w/PHX) and veteran guard Spencer Dinwiddie each to one-year, $3.6 million deals.
Just before the start of this season because of the solid depth and the fact that the Hornets remained injury free, they waived Dinwiddie on Oct. 16, 2025 to get under the 15-player roster limit.
Dinwiddie was not unemployed for very long as he signed a deal with a German team in FC Bayern Munich.
As mentioned over the past three seasons, injuries to Ball have hindered the Hornets even having a chance of making the Playoffs.
The additions of Sexton, Connaughton, and Plumlee bring as mentioned the necessary veteran experience for the Hornets and Head Coach Charles Lee but players who can still get the job done on the hardwood.
While Sexton has yet to play in a Playoff game, he did help the Cavaliers in his final season with them in 2021-22 before being traded to the Jazz that summer to reach the Play-In Tournament, where they lost both contests at the Nets and then versus the Hawks.
Sexton will bring an aggressive mentality on both ends for the Hornets, which should make Ball’s life a lot better because in practice he will have someone to push him and on game day someone who can give him a blow as well as play alongside him in certain lineups.
Last season with the Jazz, Sexton registered 27 20-plus point games, including three games scoring 30-plus. He also registered two double-doubles and had six of his 10 career double-doubles with the Jazz (4 2023-24 & 2 2024-25).
Sexton Double-Doubles Dec. 26, 2024 (122-120 Loss) @ POR: 19 Points, 11 Assists
In 2024-25 (7/19 FGs-3/7 3-Pt.).
Mar. 10, 2025 (114-108 Loss) @ BOS: 16 Points, 13 Assists
(6/16 FGs-2/4 3-Pt.).
Sexton’s Other Big Games Dec. 19, 2024 (126-119 Win) @ DET: 30 Points, 7 Assists,
2024-25 W/UTA 6 Rebounds, 3 Steals, 9/15 FGs-5/7 3-Pt., 7/9 FTs.
Jan. 28, 2025 (114-103 Loss) @ GS: 30 Points, 2 Steals
12/19 FGs-4/6 3-Pt.
Mar. 21, 2025 (121-99 Loss) Versus BOS: 30 Points,
12/16-4/6 3-Pt. (2/3 FTs).
Sexton’s Seasons With 3-Pt. 3-Pt.%
100-Plus Made 3-Pt. 2018-19 W/CLE 119/296 40.2%
2023-24 W/UTA 128/325 39.4%
2024-25 W/UTA 110/271 40.6%
In speaking with the Media following practice Oct. 1, 2025, Sexton said the Hornets success this season comes down to the team having an “unselfish” mentality where everyone is “making plays for one another.”
“It’s not going to be one person that takes us to the promiseland. It’s going to be a group effort and we have to do it together. And we’ve realized that early on….,” Sexton added.
“We need each and every person to have some type of role and play their role to the best of their ability.”
Connaughton brings not only playing experience of having to prove himself as a lower Second-Round pick (No. 41 overall in 2015 by BKN) first with the Trail Blazers and then with the Bucks but experience having been in many Playoff battles and capturing a title along the way.
Along with having played in 595 career regular season games, Connaughton has 86 career Playoff games under his belt, including helping the Bucks win their second title in their history back in 2020-21.
While last season was an injury hit one for Connaughton playing in just 41 games, he continued to show his value as a sharp-shooter and underrated rebounder and passer.
In the Bucks regular-season finale, Apr. 13, 2025 (140-133 Win) in overtime versus the Detroit Pistons, Connaughton scored a career-high 43 points with 11 rebounds and five assists, and two steals (16/29 FGs-5/12 3-Pt.).
Bucks To Have (40/10/5) Giannis Antetokounmpo 28 Khris Middleton 1
Game In Their History *Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 20 Pat Connaughton 1
*Hall Of Famer
As important as it will be for the rookies in Kon Knueppel, Sion James, Liam McNeeley, and Ryan Kalkbrenner as well as the new additions of Pat Connaughton, Collin Sexton, and Mason Plumlee to perform along with the other members of the supporting cast of Moussa Diabate, Josh Green, Tre Mann, Tidjane Salaun, and Grant Williams, the hopes for the Hornets making it to the postseason for the first time in nearly a decade, nine seasons to be exact, will depend on the health, performance, and continuity between LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges, and Brandon Miller.
Ball in his first five seasons in the league has been remarkable and magnificent from an individual standpoint. That earned him his rookie max extension on July 6, 2023 of five years at $260 million, which included a trade kicker of 15 percent and a player option in the final year of this deal.
What has held Ball back from really taking this league by storm and rise the Hornets back to becoming a perennial postseason participant has been his health and his focus on both ends of the hardwood.
On offense, Ball has a bad habit of always wanting to make the spectacular play instead of the easy one. He will take difficult shots, especially from the perimeter when it would be easier to execute the offense and take what the defense is giving you.
Defensively he will gamble more often than not for steals and when guarding one-one-one, he will always find himself in foul trouble when the opposing player he is guarding decides to take an aggressive approach to go at him.
There is no question Ball has all the talent and the offensive skills to be a top notch lead guard. It just comes down to him really focusing on the details and nuances of the game to reach that elite level he is more than capable of reaching.
At Media Day back on Sept. 29, 2025, Head Coach Charles Lee said how Ball took a different focus to this past offseason to get ready for 2025-26 is how he attacked the weight room to improve his physique to handle the grind of a long season as well as deal with the double teams he has faced so far in his career.
“I mean, with C. Lee, we watched film. We went over it. Even with Lamar [Skeeter] and everything. So, we just seen the little kinques and stuff and knew I had to get into the weight room and get stronger and stuff. So, that’s pretty much what we did,” Ball said at Media Day about improving his physique over the offseason.
Ball also said at Media Day how he had a lot of conversations over the summer with GM Peterson and Coach Lee about he needed to be “the leader” for the organization. Someone who can be “relied on” and “count on.”
As far as coming into this season having any pressure to get the Hornets over the hump and get into the Playoffs, Ball said he does “not have no pressure.” That he just comes in and prepared to play and try to help the Hornets win as many games as possible.
Just a couple of years ago, it looked like Bridges was going to really get paid and be a headliner in the Hornets rise as a Playoff perennial in the East. Things changed in the middle of Apr. 2022 when as previously mentioned was suspended for all of 2022-23 for the previously mentioned domestic violence incident with his then girlfriend.
As he enters Year 7 in the NBA as the longest tenured Hornet, Bridges hopes to be even more of a leader and the Robin to Balls Batman and vise versa.
“It’s crazy. Time flies by, you know? I was just a rookie in the league and to be the longest tenured Hornet here is kind of crazy to me,” Bridges said in a one-on-one interview with Carolina Sports Live of Queen City News on Oct. 21, 2025.
When asked in that same interview about the excitement around the team for 2025-26, Bridges said of the hype around them this season that they have “expectations” that they meet.
Bridges also said that Ball and Miller when they did play did a better job at “reading the game” better. That they have “done a better job” with their basketball IQ in terms of letting the offense and defense come to them.
“They’ve been doing a great job at being leaders and just getting better every day,” Bridges said of the evolution of Ball and Miller.
When asked about the make up of the 2025-26 Hornets, Bridges said of the “depth” of the roster and the “maturity” of the roster from the rookies and the vets in Sexton, Plumlee.
“We have a mixture of both young guys and old guys and everyone on the team wants to win,” Bridges added.
Then there is Miller, who displayed the ability to score well at the hoop as well as strike a match from the perimeter, especially from three-point range. If not for the injury to his wrist that required season-ending surgery that shelved him the final 45 games a season ago, Miller really showed he was a solid compliment to Ball and Bridges offensively.
It just comes down to Miller being a more accurate shooter, better defender and playmaker like his favorite player in the 76ers perennial All-Star Paul George has made himself into.
“I think right now I’m just more excited than anything. We’ve got a new group coming in. Some added pieces to the group. I would just say I’m more excited than anything to just get back out there and, you know, compete with my teammates and just work hard with them everyday and get better,” Miller said about his feelings entering this season.
One adjustment Miller will have to take on this year is to have tape on that surgically repaired wrist, which he did at Cane Ridge High School in Nashville, TN. He did say at Media Day that the main thing is “building the confidence back up” with catching himself and with falling and not injuring that wrist again.
Ever since their first iteration starting back in 1988-89, the Charlotte Hornets have had their share of moments where they hit the mark in the NBA Draft.
Their selections of Kendall Gill (1990), Larry Johnson (1991), and now Hall of Famer Alonzo Mourning (1992) were the core of a team alongside the likes Tyrone “Muggsy” Bouges, now Hornets color analyst Dell Curry formed a core that led the Hornets to their first Playoff berth in 1993 and their first Playoff series win that season 3-1 over the then mighty Boston Celtics led by Hall of Famers Kevin McHale and Robert Parish and the late rising star Reggie Lewis.
They made it back to the postseason in 1995 after a one-year absence but they ran into the Hall of Fame trio of Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Head Coach Phil Jackson and they lost in the opening-round (then best-of-five) 3-1.
That summer, Mourning was traded to the Miami Heat and while they started their ascension as an East heavyweight, the Hornets took a major step back.
In the offseason of 1996, the Hornets front office made moves hiring Hall of Famer and former Celtics and Spurs assistant coach Dave Cowens as their new head coach. To team up alongside then perennial sharp-shooting All-Star swingman Glen Rice, the Hornets acquired former Kia Sixth Man of the Year and former Knick in the late Anthony Mason. In that June’s draft they traded the draft rights of the late Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant to the Lakers in exchange for now fellow Hall of Famer Vlade Divac.
That Hornets squad finished that season with a franchise-record 54 wins, but they once again flamed out in the opening-round in a three-game sweep to former Hornet in Johnson and the Knicks.
The Hornets in 1997-98 registered 51 wins and took out the Hawks in the First-Round 3-1, for their first second Playoff series win in their then nine-year history. Their championship hopes were then dashed once again by Jordan and the Bulls 4-1, losing the final three games of the series.
After missing out on the postseason in the strike shortened 50-game season in 1998-99, the Hornets under then sideline leadership of Paul Silas and headlined by All-Stars in Baron Davis and Derrick Coleman, Eddie Jones, and Brandon Miller, and former color analyst for the New Orleans Pelicans David Wesley produced seasons 49, 46 and 44 wins (1999-2002).
After losing in the 2000 Playoffs 3-1 to the 76ers in the opening-round, the Hornets reached the East Semis the next two springs but fell in seven games to the eventual East runner-up Bucks in 2001 and the eventual East champion then New Jersey Nets in five games.
The 2001-02 season would be the last for the then Hornets until two years later when they came back as the Charlotte Bobcats under the then Governorship of Bob Johnson in 2004-05.
In a decade that saw them strikeout more often than not in the draft, the then Bobcats only made the Playoffs only twice over their first nine seasons (2005-14), going through six different head coaches in Bernie Bickerstaff (2004-07); Sam Vincent (2007-08); Hall of Famer Larry Brown (2008-11); Paul Silas (2011-12); Mike Dunlap (2012-13) and Steve Clifford (2013-18), who was also the head coach when they returned as the Charlotte Hornets.
Even with a new headliner in All-Star guard Kemba Walker (2011-19), the Hornets since their last season as the Bobcats from 2013-14 to the present, the Hornets have had just two Playoff appearances, a 4-0 series sweep in the 2014 First-Round opening-round against the eventual East champion Heat led by the perennial All-Star and two-time championship trio of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh, and head coach Erik Spoelstra. They also lost to the Heat in the 2016 opening-round series in seven games, after leading in the series 3-2.
Since then, the Hornets have missed the Playoffs as mentioned at the start for nine straight seasons, the longest current active Playoff drought in the Eastern Conference and in the NBA and in 18 out of the last 21 dating back to their time as the Bobcats.
Hornets Notable Draft Bust Since 2004
C-Emeka Okafor (No. 2 overall 2004) PF-P.J. Washington (No. 12 overall 2019)
PG-Raymond Felton (No. 5 overall 2005) SG-James Bouknight (No. 11 overall 2021)
PF/C-Sean May (No. 13 overall 2005) C-Mark Williams (No. 15 overall 2022)
PF-Adam Morrison (No. 3 overall 2006) PG-Nick Smith, Jr. (No. 27 overall 2023)
C-Brandan Wright (No. 8 overall 2007)
PG-D.J. Augustin (No. 9 overall 2008)
SG-Gerald Henderson (No. 12 overall 2009)
SF-Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (No. 2 overall 2012)
C-Cody Zeller (No. 4 overall 2013)
PF/C-Noah Vonleh (No. 9 overall 2014)
PF/C-Frank Kaminsky (No. 9 overall 2015
SG-Malik Monk (No. 11 overall 2017)
The Hornets entered 2025-26 with two things they have not had in a few seasons, hope and optimism.
Turning that hope and optimism into postseason reality will come down how quickly Head Coach Charles Lee, who an assistant coach won titles in 2021 and 2024 respectably with the Bucks and Celtics, and his coaching staff of Jermaine Bucknor, Ryan Frazier, Matt Hill, Josh Longstaff, Blaine Mueller, Kyle Neptune, Zach Peterson, and Lamar Skeeter can turn this collection of talent into a team that has cohesion on both ends of the hardwood.
At Media Day, Coach Lee said Year 1 was about “building relationships with the players. Dissecting our defense. Dissecting our offense. And reflecting on last year.”
“I think there was so many lessons learned. There was so many positives from a 19-win season. But obviously, we want to be better than that. I want to be better than that,” Coach Lee said about last season.
“We turn the page. We look forward after reflecting from those lessons learned…I think we had a very good draft. I think we had a great free agency signings that are going to continue to help our team. I think that we did some trades that help not only like the front office side of things but also the sign of things,” Lee added.
“We’ve set like a little of a baseline, a standard. And then now, we have to try to exceed that standard in Year 2.”
Best Case Scenario: The Hornets are competing for the Playoffs through the Play-In. Ball remains healthy and earns his second All-Star selection of his career. Bridges and Miller have impactful seasons. Knueppel is in contention for Kia Rookie of the Year and makes one of the two All-Rookie teams. Kalkbrenner also makes one of the two All-Rookie squads. The Hornets return to being a Top 10 offense like they were a couple of seasons ago and a middle of the pack defensively.
Worst Case Scenario: The Hornets missed the Playoffs a 10th straight season. Ball, Bridges, and Miller suffer major injuries again. The Hornets are in the bottom half offensively and defensively again.
Grade: B
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