#just for kawhi cause i fucking miss him

[rhynehoward]

[allpromarlo]

Ocs 👁👁 ? I would like to Hear them

OOOOOOOOOHHHHH BABY BUCKLE UP THIS BOUTTA BE A L O N G ONE

i'm only gonna get into the nba ocs that i have and not the like 27 other ones because issa BIG ass universe and i don't have the time nor space to talk about all of them in detail LMAO

the first one that i had was youngjae park (i created him during my kpop phase and i've gotten so used to the name that i'm not even gonna change it no more) who i had as a 7'1" athletic tANK on the blazers. kinda like nurk just a lot better and with a VERY weird homoerotic friendship with dame but that's beside the point LOL. he's the dude who went into isolation for four months and came back as super saiyan god mode korean jesus and averaged a quintuple double (dont question it.) and swept every award he was eligible for. he was drafted 16th overall in 2014 (at the age of 16 oops) by the blazers, won roty in 2015, dpoy in 2016 (my apologies kawhi) then had a terrible season in 2017 because of injures, still made the wcf with a mediocre blazers squad and missed the finals because of ONE (1) failed block on steph . then everybody was like TRADE THIS BUM I WANT HIM OFF MY TEAM but it was all sadeness when he went missing smh (hid in a small town in korea for dramatic effect because he's all about that camp shit) came back in 2018 opening night against the bulls (who dIDNT TRADE DROSE IN THIS UNIVERSE FAWK YALL) and from then on it was AAAAALLL downwards for the rest of the league. 2018 and 2019 were seasons in HELL for the warriors especially 2018 because he 112 pieced them on christmas in their own arena. threepeatdled with the blazers, got injured AGAIN in 2021 but dw he's coming for that revenge season in 2022. on his personality i'd say he walks the line between annoying and funny and does it in an exceptionally bisexual way because i said so . also he's very dramatic and probably mentally ill because a normal functioning person doesn't hibernate for almost half a damn year and then come back as a god

second one was actually youngjae's lil brother hyunjae (korean names are hard and there wasn't any other options man don't come for me) who is a whole foot shorter than his bro and plays as starting point on the spurs. he's a lot like ai in his play style but has a 3 pt shot that could beat stephs ass and was mvp in 2021. i also sacrificed giannis' championship season for him (oops sorry bout that) so him and the rest of the spurs (including keldon for better judgement) could be champions and san antonio has a legacy outside of tim duncan. ANYWAYS he doesn't have a dramatic ass backstory like youngjae but he did have a maniacal growth spurt in like two years (5'0 -> 6'1) and went from missing the playoffs without even making the play in to being a fourth seed champion in the league. he's a lot calmer and lowkey than his brother (because that bitch is BRASH but alas) and big men like pushing him around until they get the shit beaten outta them by cole grant (he's up soon). all in all he's very nice and also kinda annoying to the point that giannis intentionally pushed him in the finals lol but he has a good heart. 10/10 would recommend

next i have *checks notes* uuuuhhhh everett curtis (...) who's a 7'4" kinda lanky power forward that played in the 2000s. i always thought ai could've come further than he did if he had one other piece and everett is EXACTLY that piece except rett was actually drafted a year before ai did, 3rd overall in 1995. his career went pretty much normal, won an mvp in 00 (fuck u shaq) and a chip in 01 but after that was stuck on a somehwat mediocre sixers team outside of ai cause you know i had to do it to em. there was a whole lotta drama in the 2007 off season about him or ai potentially getting traded (kinda like the ben simmons shiii right now but more weighted) but in the end it resolved in a whole lotta nothing and rett actually re-entered his prime (?) in 2008 and won the chip with ai & melo on the team (melo has a whole autogenerated 2k career in this au but i don't have the time nor energy to get into that) anyways yeah rett eventually retired in 2015 after 20 years of the sixers (two years before ben simmons was drafted hooo lord he said i'ma save myself) and at age 39 and rn he's just kinda existing not doing a lot but he did write a book where he DOESN'T put his best teammate down relentlessly (feel yaself called scottie). as for his personality he's very laid back & calm and him and ai had a very...special bond, you may interpret that however you want LMFAO. overall a very chill dood and i wish him no harm even though i'll probably have to do it to him sorry bro

AAAAAAAAAND LAST UP the newest addition to the squad, cole grant. he was actually based off of this one dude my brother made in 2k (because his own character in mycareer was overpowered as FUCK and he wanted to make a realistic person) who was a 7'2" center with a giannis ass build who can't shoot a 3 for his life (that's what we have hyunjae for) and i put him on the spurs because hyunjae needs a friend. my dude was drafted into the nba at 23 in 2020 after a row of events that include him serving in the army because he didn't wanna pay for college but then realizing oh hell nah this ain't it and leaving. alas he's jacked as fuck now and has knocked a couple players out already (including jokic TWICE because he thought he could do sumn against his favorite little gremlin boy hyunjae) but when they leave his friends and him alone he's pretty chill. he's still underdeveloped because i just made him up like five days ago so if you want i can give more information on him later when i've developed him a lil further LOL. hwat i do know doe is that he and hyunjae have this typical "energetic small dude who's ready to fuck everything up" and "usually laid back big dude who can and will rock your shit if you hurt his friend" typa dynamic. is very funny 2 me indeed

sooooOOO that was it. that's the nba ocs that i have . again it's not all of my ocs because issa lOT of people but like i also have wnba, f1 and music ocs (the musicians root FAR back and are the start - the foundation of this entire universe of madness and unicorns) and i also altered reality to fit my agenda because reality can be whatever i want and it's GOING to be whatever i want

also thanks for asking me about them so now i can post about them on here because i've been Waiting to do that for a long time ily

[goldenhemmings]

For The Win | Basketball!Shawn

Me? Posting two pieces in one night?? Shawnblr’s resident sports whore is back with 1.6k words of shitty impulse writing because she loses her fucking mind when Shawn does anything remotely close to sporty. Enjoy.

Raptors have the firepower to reach NBA Finals. Raptors build momentum one defining moment at a time. Raptors become Eastern Conference Champions, will play in first-ever NBA Finals. And, most recently, Warriors defeat Raptors in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. They were all articles she was proud of publishing, but none of them carried the headline Y/N so desperately wished to write: Toronto Raptors become NBA champions.

She was fresh out of college and just finishing her second year as a sports reporter for the Toronto Star, exclusively covering the Raptors. Going to basketball games and interviewing some of the greatest players in the NBA was a part of her official job description; every aspiring sports journalist’s dream. Additionally, she felt luckier than could be explained for the opportunity to cover a championship roster, especially one that was up 3-2 on Golden State, of all teams. It was a feat not many people had expected the Raptors to be able to accomplish, and Y/N was right there alongside it all, reporting on arguably the biggest Cinderella story of the 2018-19 season.  

Today was her last chance to get commentary from the players before Game 6, as they traveled to Oakland first thing the next morning. Her editor expected an article to be on his desk by eight p.m. that night to be blasted to the entire city of Toronto the next morning, and time was of the essence.

Y/N rounded the corner towards the front entrance of the OVO Athletic Centre, the Raptors’ primary training facility. She flashed her press badge to the security guard standing outside the doors of the building; team protocol anytime there were members of the squad using the gym. The guard, whom she recognized from her many ventures to this particular practice facility, gave a curt nod before scanning the doors open for her.

She stepped inside, the cool air conditioning of the building overwhelming her and causing goosebumps to rise on her skin. She locked eyes with the receptionist, Jim, who sat in his usual spot at the front desk just on the other side of the doors. Dutifully wearing a red We The North t-shirt, he smiled at her and brushed a hand back over his graying hair as he stood to greet her.

“How’re you doing today, Miss Y/L/N?”

“I’m covering a first-time Eastern Conference champion,” she grinned, not missing a beat, and Jim let out a hearty laugh. “So I’d say I’m doing pretty well.”

“I’d say so, too,” he answered. “Who’re you here for today?”

She smiled. She never knew the players’ individual schedules; all she could do was hope that she could catch them at the right moment. Jim, however, had always been on her side, doing all he could to help her track down the athletes she needed when she needed them. “Ideally Leonard. I’m looking to get a statement for the feature I’m writing.”

“Believe he’s still in the main gym practicing. You might need to wait until he’s done.”

She checked the delicate rose-gold watch that adorned her wrist. “I’ve got time,” she replied, already fishing inside her purse for the tape recorder she’d brought to document the interview. “Just glad he’s actually here. Thanks, Jim.”

She stepped past the desk and followed the path to Gymnasium One; a trail that she knew like the back of her hand. She could hear the echo of a basketball bouncing on the lacquered wooden court before she could see the entrance to the gym, which she took as a good sign; at least someone was in there.

She stepped through the entryway and was met with an empty gymnasium save for the tall, familiar man shooting layups on the far-left hoop, his curly brown hair pushed off of his face with a thin black headband. She took note of the Mendes 98 stitched onto the back of his black practice jersey; he wasn’t who she was looking for, but hopefully he could get her one step closer to finding the player she needed. As soon as he spotted Y/N he began making his way over to her, the basketball now tucked between his arm and the side of his torso.

“Here to interview me?” he asked, flashing his trademark, brilliant smile. His deep voice had a slight echo in the nearly-vacant gymnasium. Shawn Mendes was a first-year player for the Toronto Raptors after the team acquired him from the Phoenix Suns, where he’d been drafted and previously spent two seasons. He wasn’t quite ready to be a main-rotation player, but he did see a few minutes of playing time most games. He was young and he was talented, and the Raptors were doing a great job at developing his skills. In a few years, he’d undeniably be of starting-five calibre.

“I’m looking for Leonard, actually,” Y/N answered matter-of-factly. She ran into Shawn quite frequently due to the fact that he wasn’t a hard-to-reach, top player in the same category as Kawhi Leonard or Kyle Lowry, and she’d had plenty of time to get to know Shawn with all the time she’d spent diligently waiting around the Raptors’ clubhouse to catch one of the team’s stars for a quick statement she could write into an article. In fact, she was the one who’d written the story that broke the news of his trade from Phoenix to Toronto; she had the article, her first-ever breaking news story, in a frame sitting on her desk at work. Shawn, on the other hand, had quickly taken a liking to the young reporter and began to look forward to seeing her before and after games, but it had never surpassed his innocent--but very obvious--attempts at flirting.   

“Well when do I get an interview?” he pressed, his eyes sparkling under the bright, fluorescent lights of the gym.

“Singlehandedly put up 36 points in a championship game and then we’ll talk.”

He laughed, looking down at his basketball shoes. “So never, then.”

“I wouldn’t say never,” she teased. “You’d just better get practicing.”

“Fair,” he replied with a smirk. He was slightly sweaty from what Y/N assumed to be an intense practice session, but she’d be lying if she didn’t admit to herself how endearing she found the fact that his cheeks always flushed when he played. “36 points for an interview, but how many do I have to score to get you to go to dinner with me?”

Y/N raised a brow at him, suddenly amused; he’d never been this forward before. “Equally as many,” she fired back, challenging him, and relishing in the way his lips pulled into a smile. “Plus the championship.”

His eyes widened. “You do know who we’re playing, right?”

“Are you saying you don’t believe in your team? That’d make a great headline.”

“Am I on or off the record here?” he laughed, and just as Y/N was ready to bite back with a witty remark she noticed a door on the opposite side of the gym open, and in walked Kawhi Leonard in his typical practice uniform. Y/N gasped and turned to dash towards him, already turning her tape recorder on, hoping to grab him before he left for the day.

She could feel Shawn watching her as she spoke to the Raptors’ star forward, occasionally turning away to take a few shots from behind the arc. Show off. Once satisfied with the questions she’d had Leonard answer, she said a polite thank you and good luck before turning to tuck her tape recorder back into her purse. Shawn was approaching her in an instant, the basketball bouncing off in the opposite direction, disregarded after the last shot he’d taken.

“You never answered my question, you know,” he began, still smiling, though his tone was less joking than it was before she’d gone to do her interview. “About what it’ll take for you to go to dinner with me.”

“Yes, I did,” she retorted, a sly smile crossing her mouth. “You put up 36 points in a game and the Raptors win the championship. That’s your answer.”

“That’s a lot to ask, Y/N,” he replied, laughing lightly. “I don’t exactly have a large influence over whether or not we win the championship.”

She crossed her arms over her chest, enjoying their banter more than she’d ever admit. “You’d better make the most of your three minutes of playing time, then.”

He sucked a breath of air in through his teeth, feigning offense. “Ouch.”

She giggled, but was interrupted by her phone sounding its familiar ringtone that signified a text message. She pulled it out of her bag to reveal a text from her boss: How’s the article coming?

She sighed, which Shawn picked up on right away. “Everything alright?”

“Duty calls,” she shrugged, tucking the phone away and readjusting how the strap of her purse rested on her shoulder. “I’ve gotta get back to the office and put this story together.”

Shawn nodded in understanding, his soft eyes fixated on hers. “I guess I’ll see you, then. Hopefully we can get the win in Oakland, but if we do come back to Toronto for a Game 7 I look forward to seeing you there.”

Her cheeks got hot. Why was he looking at her like that all of a sudden? “Tell your teammates I’m rooting for them,” she replied, beginning to move back towards the door.

He laughed, reaching to grab another basketball and not fully understanding what she was getting at. “Half of North America is rooting for them.”

“Then half of North America wants you to take me to dinner,” she called back with a smug grin, turning around to leave the gym before she could see his expression, but she didn’t miss the perfect swoosh sound that accompanied a basketball falling perfectly through the net.

[bthenoise]

We The North: Here Are NBA Finals Predictions From Raptors Megafans Dallas Green, Shane Told and More

Calling all dunkers, hoopers and shooters! The NBA Finals are here and for the very first time, the Toronto Raptors will be representing the Eastern Conference against the defending champion Golden State Warriors. 

Now we don’t know about you, but we are pretty sick and tired of seeing the Steph Curry and Kevin Durant-led Warriors winning year after year after year. So to help bring some extra luck to Kawhi Leonard, Drake and the whole city of Toronto, we have compiled NBA Finals predictions from some of the biggest Raptors fans around. 

At shooting guard, from Alexisonfire and City & Colour, we have Dallas “Young Cardinal” Green. And at small forward, hailing from the hard-hitting tunes of Silverstein, we have Shane “Smile In Your Sleep” Told. Next, coming in as the tallest member of our Canadian crew, starting at center is PUP guitarist Steve “Mabu” Sladkowski. And lastly, rounding out our team of skilled b-ball prognosticators, at power forward, Seaway six-stringer Andrew “Airhead” Eichinger. (And yes, for those keeping score at home, we are clearly the point guard in this made up scenario facilitating the offense and assisting our teammates every step of the way.)          

To check out what the diehard Raptors fans had to say about their team’s fate in anticipation of tonight’s game one tip, be sure to see their answers to the six questions below. Afterward, make sure to support all four amazing artists here, here, here and here. Go Raptors!

DALLAS GREEN - ALEXISONFIRE // CITY & COLOUR

How does it feel to see the Raptors in the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history?

Like many of us, I’ve been supporting this team since its inception. There have been so many tough years. It’s hard to stay positive when you’re rooting for an expansion team who’s in a different country than the rest of the league and gets treated as such. But we’ve stuck with them through thick and thin and now we get a chance to play for a championship. I couldn’t be happier.

Do you think the Raptors have a chance to win?

I absolutely do. 

What will it take for Kawhi Leonard and the Toronto Raptors to beat the Golden State Warriors?

They just need to play their game. Don’t get caught up in the rat race trying to play like Golden State. Aggressive defense for four quarters. Make adjustments like they have throughout the entire playoffs. Oh, and give the ball to Kawhi [laughs].

How will Team Ambassador Drake impact this series? Positively? Negatively? Not at all?  

I’ll be watching the basketball players.

Your NBA Finals prediction? 

Raps in six.

Bonus Question: If the Raptors win it all, will you perform at the team's parade?

No I will not because I’ll be swimming in Lake Ontario with a smile on my face.

SHANE TOLD - SILVERSTEIN 

How does it feel to see the Raptors in the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history?

I’ve been a diehard fan since the team started in 1995 -- the first basket by Alvin Robertson, the ridiculousness of them playing in the Skydome, I was at the game when they beat Michael Jordan. Hell, I had a Zan Tabak poster in my room, so this is really special. I rarely miss a game so I’ve watched some really terrible teams. Finally, to see the Raptors go all-in with some great players and take some chances, it’s paying off and I couldn’t be more excited.  

Do you think the Raptors have a chance to win?

Absolutely. People forget the Raps beat the Warriors in both meetings this season including beating them by like 20 at home. And that’s WITH Durant. Not to mention Toronto has home-court [advantage]. And the Raptors have been playing more intense basketball than Golden State - I think because they’ve had to work harder to win, they’re going to have more drive than the Warriors. What will it take for Kawhi Leonard and the Toronto Raptors to beat the Golden State Warriors?

If the Raptors can make those corner 3′s and rebound well - that’s gonna be the difference. Giving up second-chance points and not knocking down those big open shots makes it an uphill battle. If all else fails though, Kawhi will get the ball and you’ve seen what he can do in desperate times. I think the Raptors defense is underrated too. But it goes without saying they have to defend a team like Golden State and limit the damage. Ibaka, VanVleet, and even Powell off the bench have shown they can come in and shutdown teams - not to mention Siakam, Lowry... oh and former [defensive] man of the year, Leonard.   How will Team Ambassador Drake impact this series? Positively? Negatively? Not at all?   

I love what Drake has done for Toronto in general - he really has put us on the map. But with the Raptors, it’s next level. No other team has an ambassador/fan/hypeman this famous, right in his prime and this excited about the team. And I love that he causes some distraction because it is going to affect the Warriors. You’re running up the court or shooting a free throw and the most famous rapper in the world is shit-talking you? A guy who you are probably a huge fan of (because who isn’t??). It’s definitely got potential to get under guys’ skin and at the same time he just revs up the whole arena and the players as well. I wouldn’t quite call him the 6th man -- but he’s definitely going to be a factor. Plus, who else is going to relieve Nick Nurse’s shoulder aches and pains? Your NBA Finals prediction? 

I’m saying Raptors in six. Kawhi is the Finals MVP. Raptors win game one, lose in game two. Durant comes back in game three and plays awful and costs them the game. Raptors win game four and game six on the road and Kawhi averages 35 points a game. How’s that for specific?   Bonus Question: If the Raptors win it all, will you perform at the team's parade? 

I will be right alongside Drake with my extra small Damon Stoudamire jersey on from when I was 14. I hope everyone enjoys a screamo rendition of “God’s Plan.”

STEVE SLADKOWSKI - PUP

How does it feel to see the Raptors in the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history?

It's amazing. I was at game six and the party felt like it was just getting started. The city and fanbase feel electric in a way that I've never seen before. Do you think the Raptors have a chance to win? Kawhi Leonard is a Toronto Raptor, so yes. Yes, I do. What will it take for Kawhi Leonard and the Toronto Raptors to beat the Golden State Warriors? Four perfect games of basketball. Not asking too much, to be honest. How will Team Ambassador Drake impact this series? Positively? Negatively? Not at all? I think that Drake's influence on the team, and on the city of Toronto, is being unfairly maligned in the wake of the Eastern Conference Finals. First of all, boo-fucking-hoo to the city of Milwaukee and the Bucks, who banned Drake's music on the radio in advance of the ECF and who were more crybaby than Reggie Miller was with Spike Lee at Madison Square Garden. To paraphrase the pitcher David Price: “You don't like it? Play better.” 

Second of all: It is hard to overstate how important it has been for Toronto's civic identity, especially as someone who works in the arts, to have someone as massive as Drake shoutout and rep the city on a consistent basis. I've said this before, but I firmly believe that Drake's superstardom has shone light in corners of Toronto's cultural scene that otherwise were operating mostly in relative darkness and obscurity; whether you're a rapper or a basketball player or a punk rocker or a painter... having someone like Drake be the figurehead for a city has only brought more eyes and attention to the city as a whole. 

As for this series, I think Drake is going to check out the matchups and see what is needed from him just like Nick Nurse and Steve Kerr will for the Raptors and Warriors respectively. But I know he'll be there courtside representing the city in a way that Torontonians, whether they say it or not, truly appreciate. Your NBA Finals prediction? If not now, when? Raptors in seven.

Bonus Question: If the Raptors win it all, will you perform at the team's parade?

I certainly would love to but it feels unlikely. That's totally fine with me as I'll be dancing and drinking in the streets anyway.

ANDREW EICHINGER - SEAWAY

How does it feel to see the Raptors in the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history?

Fantastic. It’s been a long time coming for this team that’s been good for the last five or six years. The massive moves they made over the summer and during the season have obviously worked out and I’m so happy this is where we’ve landed.

Do you think the Raptors have a chance to win?

I definitely think the Raptors have a chance to win this thing. 

What will it take for Kawhi Leonard and the Toronto Raptors to beat the Golden State Warriors?

All the pressure is on Golden State to continue their dynasty and the Raptors have been thriving in the underdog narrative all playoffs and their entire existence for that matter. If Durant and Cousins are out, the Raps can play quick and small. If they’re in, I’ll put my faith in Kawhi and Gasol guarding them. The Warriors have been known to turn the ball over and the Raptors have one of the best defenses and fast break offenses in the league. Whatever happens, everyone is counting us out and this group of veterans has found a way to win over the past few weeks when they’ve been in tough spots so they’re not going to go down easily. Kawhi will go off.

How will Team Ambassador Drake impact this series? Positively? Negatively? Not at all?

Everything that Drake has done for this team has been nothing but positive for the team, city and the country so I can’t see his impact being anything but positive. I think it’s great that one of the biggest superstars in the world cares this much about our team and knows how much this means to the city and everyone across Canada.

Your NBA Finals prediction?

Raps in seven. Kawhi MVP.

Bonus Question: If the Raptors win it all, will you perform at the team's parade?

Probably not because realistically we would be raging in the streets with the rest of the city.

[shervonfakhimi]

The Next 70 Piece? (3-25-17)

No, this is not fake news. 2nd year guard Devin Booker actually scored 70 points in an NBA game against the Boston Celtics. Even if there was some tom-foolery action late, 70 points is 70 fucking points. Give that man his due, considering some of the greatest we’ve ever seen have never reached that mark.

https://twitter.com/BenGolliver/status/845464055070449664

And if you still don’t believe me, see it for yourself. https://twitter.com/NBA/status/845473475892428800

As I was watching UCLA-Kentucky, pondering what the heck happened in Boston on March 24, 2017, I began to wonder who else could join Booker, David Thompson, David Robinson, Kobe Bryant & Wilt Chamberlain in the 70 point club. Who’s next? Let’s find out.

Just Missed: Giannis Antetoukounmpo (Not there as a scorer/shooter… YET), Karl-Anthony Towns, Carmelo Anthony (Long live the triangle, baby!), DeMar DeRozan, Kawhi Leonard (Blame Pop), Kyle Lowry, Kevin Love, Jimmy Butler, Gordon Hayward, JR Smith (too many open 3s would be needed to get there)

1) Steph Curry/Kevin Durant/Klay Thompson - Yes, any of these 3 members of Golden State’s Death Star lineup could get there if they so desire. All 3 love to run and gun, are lethal from 3 and are able to manufacture open looks due to the amount of constant pressure and fear these guys press into the minds of the opponents. Add in the masterful passing of Draymond Green & the general unselfishness Golden State plays with, these guys can be impossible to stop. Not only that, but when one is rolling, Golden State will feed that man and get him however many points he wants. Look no further than Klay Thompson’s 60 point masterpiece (in only 3 quarters, mind you) earlier this season, or has 38 point 3rd quarter bonanza a couple seasons ago, or the constant Curry barrages we’ve become accustomed to. Durant is the best scorer in our game today and can get himself a bucket from anywhere on the court and is a master at getting to the free throw line, more so than Steph or Klay. One is going to have to be scorching hot from the get go, enough to convince the others to let him cook, but that shouldn’t even be the hardest part. The hardest part would be for Golden State to not completely blow the snot out of their opponent to even give one of these guys a shot.

2) James Harden - Quite frankly, I’m surprised this hasn’t happened yet. James Harden has fit in seamlessly and perfectly as the leader of Mike D’Antoni’s high powered, fast paced offense. The additions of Eric Gordon and Ryan Anderson have spread the floor perfectly for Harden to drive and get to the rim/free throw line at will, lob it over to Capela or Nene in the pick and roll for an easy dunk, or fling cross court passes to those shooters if the defense decides to help. Though Point Harden has made a monumental leap in balancing his role as scorer and facilitator, he is still an incredible scorer to counter his facilitating, as noted by his 53 point-16 rebound-17 assist performance, of which has never before been seen in the history of the NBA. His ability to bulldoze guards, run through swipes at the ball in his quest of getting to the rim, garnering him plenty of free throw attempts, and his ability to freeze centers changing speeds all contribute in his ability to finish around the rim and get to the line. This doesn’t even include his ability to draw Lou Williams-esque fouls while in the act of shooting jumpshots. In fact, as Chris Herring of 538 so astutely pointed out, James Harden has drawn more fouls on 3 point attempt than any other NBA team as a whole has (https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/james-harden-gets-fouled-on-3s-more-than-any-nba-team/).The ability to get easy free throws from anywhere on the court to go along with ample room to drive and finish and his handles to free himself from defenders and hit tough jump shots over defender, Harden has as much a chance as anybody to hit the 70 point plateau.

3) Russell Westbrook - As if Russell Westbrook needed another statistical obstacle to overcome in his 2017 revenge tour. He might not be a good enough shooter to get him the extra points to get him to 70, but by God he sure would gun for it. It’d be very Westbrookian to follow in the paths of Kobe’s ‘damn it, I’m gunning for it’ mentality when he went for 60 points on 50 shots to get up to 70. But the difference with Westbrook is, no matter how many shots he shoots or rebounds he skies for, he will still have enough energy to pull this off. Watching Westbrook reminds me of the scene from ‘Horrible Bosses’ when Jason Bateman’s character is stocking Collin Farrell’s character swing his nunchucks through a window from his car, asking himself “Where does he get this energy!?” Now, Westbrook doesn’t get his energy THAT way, rather getting it from his relentless work ethic and passion for winning. That could certainly work in his favor to get to 70. Again, he isn’t a great shooter and sometimes shoots his team out of it, but when his jump shot is falling, it doesn’t tend to stop. Also, considering Westbrook’s prowess late in close games to go with the fact he might have to single handedly will his team back with his scoring, not only could he get 70, it might provide the best theatre possible of this bunch in his quest for 70.

4) LeBron James - Yes, LeBron is not known as a scorer. He is so damn good at everything imaginable on a basketball court that his scoring goes a bit under the radar. When he isn’t going after Charles Barkley or causing a hot take hazard when he sits games out for rest, he is still torching opponents, further implementing his staple as the best player in the league. Lost though, has been LeBron’s renaissance as a shooter. In fact, he is shooting 38.1% from 3 this season, his 2nd highest mark of his career. He is more willing to shoot it from 15 feet and beyond and is nuanced enough to beat you from the post or just plow his way for a dunk as if he were Marshawn Lynch trucking guys for extra yardage. LeBron is similar to Westbrook in that their reputations do not scream that they are shooters, but can burn you with it. They’ll need to be making them though to have a chance of sniffing 70.

5) Damian Lillard/CJ McCollum - There is some Golden State-ness here in that these two might cancel each other out, but have been to cook amongst the presence of each other. Lillard is fearless on the court, not afraid to heave it from Curry-esque distances and splash it in his opponent’s eyehole. McCollum is a bit more cerebral in his approach. He has a wicked (underrated) handle, crafty around the rim and gets to his spots, primarily around the 15 foot mark for a pull-up jumpshot, at will. He’s very smooth and almost never loses the ball from speeding himself up or forces bad shots. Both are also great at moving without the ball, running off screens and cutting to the basket with enough savvy to finish among the trees. With the addition of Jusuf Nurkic to get them easy looks off the high post and Terry Stotts’ highly technical offensive system, these two have as good a chance as any to get 70. Both also showed love to Booker after it happened too.

https://twitter.com/Dame_Lillard/status/845459578611351552

https://twitter.com/CJMcCollum/status/845462905084526592

6) Anthony Davis - Davis is, with much respect to Karl-Anthony Towns, Nikola Jokic, his teammate DeMarcus Cousins and Marc Gasol, the most lethal big man we have today in regards to scoring. I mean, the man dropped an unheard of 59 point, 20 rebound masterpiece against the Detroit Pistons a season ago. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPdJ6K2tlgY

Davis’ first step as a big man is impeccable. Plodding big men have no chance to stay in front of him to take away his high-flying floater. He uses his length and athleticism perfectly, so much so that his hand is about at the same height as the rim when he elevates & follows through with his floater. Good luck trying to stop that. Put a smaller, quicker defender on him, he’ll shoot over the top of him or plow him in the post. Not only does he have the handle to drive and finish, he’s got the midrange jumper that he can drill in his sleep. On top of that, he is a fantastic rebounder, and can use that to his advantage to get himself easy dunks. Boogie might get in the way of Davis’ quest for 70, but when he’s rolling, there might be no one else with a better chance of 70 than Anthony Davis.

7) Paul George - This may or may not be an elaborate ploy to butter up Paul George and get him to come back to his home state (In my best Princess Leia impression: Help us PG13, you’re our only hope. Rest in peace Carrie Fisher) in Purple and Gold. Fool-proof, right? Ok, probably not, but it was worth a shot. Anyway, back to George. George has had a rocky season trying to lead Indiana into a contender, but part of that is because they are a flawed roster with too many guys that can’t shoot 3s well enough to space the floor or guard anyone in their path. This is where George comes in. He has been frustrated this year, and it is entirely possible Indiana just lays an egg to the point where George just tells his team ‘give me the ball, get the hell out of my way, screen and rebound.’ George is one of the better 1v1 scorers in the league. He has enough of a handle to shake his defenders for a step back jumper, can drain it from anywhere on the floor, and is one of the more vicious finishers at the rim. He’s also a really good defender, one that can get steals jumping passing lanes or force bad shots that could lead to easy transition dunks. I wouldn’t put it past PG13 to get to 70, I just hope it comes in a Laker uniform.

9) Kyrie Irving - Kyrie’s odds for 70 are kind of similar to those of Isaiah’s. He is not as great a mover/cutter as Isaiah is when the ball isn’t in his hands, but that doesn’t really matter (at least for the quest of 70 it doesn’t) when you have some guy named LeBron James, the best passer in the game today, dishing you the rock. But when the ball is in his hands, my goodness is he electric. His handles are on a string that allow him to get anywhere he wants on the court and he is as good as anyone at contorting his body under the rim and finishing among the trees. His shooting has improved from 3 this season, along with his free throw percentage. Plus, he’s proven, when Kyrie gets hot, he gets white hot. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mi7OSaVB3fg

The Cavs have really bought in to the pace & space era of today’s NBA. The extra transition treys Kyrie gets gives him as good a chance at anyone for 70.

10) Kemba Walker - A bit of an under-the-radar pick, but the first time All Star has to be in this conversation. The transition and growth of Kemba from an inefficient scorer to well rounded point guard has been phenomenal. He is shooting career highs in both field goal (44.5%) and 3 point percentage (40.1%) this season. His progression from 3 has really been noticeable this season, as Chris Herring pointed out in this article. https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/kemba-walker-doesnt-care-how-close-youre-guarding-him/. No matter how close you are, if he gets any sliver of daylight, he will shoot it, and odds are, he’ll drain it. He too has also improved his midrange game and his finishing around the rim. Charlotte has been decimated by injuries this season and do not have a ton of creators on their team outside of Kemba Walker, save for Nicolas Batum. That could both work against him or work in his favor, having to pick up the slack for the people around and drop 70 out of necessity. I don’t expect Kemba to be the next to drop 70, but he at least has the energy for it, as evidenced by his 6 day attack on the Big East tournament in 2011 or his participation in UConn’s 6 overtime classic against Syracuse in 2009.

11) Bradley Beal - Another outside-the-box pick. Beal is having a career year, living up to every penny of the max contract he signed last summer. What’s been the difference with Beal this season? Not only has he become more aggressive shooting more shots, he’s been a lot more efficient doing so, a pretty healthy combination. He’s shooting a career high in: field goal percentage (48.1%), shots attempted per game (17.1), 3 point attempts per game (7.1), free throw attempts (4.5) and free throw percentage (82.3%). His 3 point percentage this season is the 2nd highest of his career (40.4%). These numbers are great, and has a premiere playmaker at his disposal in John Wall, who can get to the paint at will to collapse the defense, freeing up plenty of drive and kick opportunities to free up Beal for an open 3. Beal is excellent at running off screens in a Klay Thompson sort of manner, and is unafraid to launch open 3s in transition rather than get an easy 2. His ability to create for himself has improved this year too, whether it be out of the pick and roll for a pull up jumper or go iso. He isn’t the greatest finisher in the paint, but good enough to get his from there. Klay Thompson put out the blueprint on how to get busy without having the ball in his hands for most of the game, and Beal has the goods to follow suit.

12) Devin Booker - I mean, he was the guy who did it. Who says he can’t do it again?

Look, 70 points in one game is damn near impossible, improbable at the highest of degrees at best. It was a damn-near miracle Booker even got there when he did it. I’m not saying it's going to happen again, or happen anytime soon for that matter, but if it does, I’m putting my money on these guys to do it. If I had to rank them, I’d say the 3 most likely to pull this off would be, in this order, Klay Thompson, James Harden and Steph Curry. Either way, this was a historic achievement and should be treated as such. Shouts to Devin Booker, and hopefully this is just a sign of things to come from the young Sun prodigy.