JALEN DUREN NAMED EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

The NBA announced that Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played from Monday, Feb. 23 through Sunday, March 1. This marks the first time in his career that Duren has received the honor.

Duren (6-10, 250) led the Pistons to a 3-1 record for the week with averages of 25.8 points (.639 FG%), an Eastern-Conference-leading 13.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.3 blocks and 1.3 steals per game while recording a double-double in all four games.

Duren led Detroit in its first contest of the week, notching his 26th double-double of the season with 25 points and 10 rebounds against San Antonio on Feb. 23. He followed that performance up with 29 points and 15 rebounds to help Detroit knock off the Western Conference No. 1 seeded Oklahoma City Thunder on Feb. 25. Duren then tied a career-high 33 points to go with 16 rebounds, three assists and three blocks against Cleveland on Feb. 27, becoming only the second player in franchise history to record those minimums in a single game (Bob Lanier). The Sharon Hill, Pa. native capped the week off with 16 points, 10 rebounds and two steals, helping Detroit defeat the Orlando Magic on March 1.

A first-time NBA All-Star this season, Duren is averaging a career-high 18.5 points while shooting 63.1% from the field, 10.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists over 49 games. He joins teammate Cade Cunningham as Pistons that have won Eastern Conference Player of the Week this season.

Detroit holds a 45-14 record this season – their most wins in a season since the 2007-08 season – and are the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.

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2026 NBA ALL-STAR GAME TO FEATURE NEW U.S. VS. WORLD COMPETITION

The National Basketball Association (NBA) and the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) announced a new U.S. vs. World format for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game. NBC/Peacock will present the league’s annual midseason showcase on Sunday, Feb. 15 at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif., home of the LA Clippers.

In the 2026 NBA All-Star Game, two teams of U.S. players and one team of international players (known as the World team) will compete in a round-robin tournament featuring four 12-minute games. The three teams will each have a minimum of eight players.

As in the past, 24 NBA All-Stars (12 from each conference) will be selected as follows: The five players honored as starters from each conference will be selected by fans (50% of the vote), current NBA players (25%) and a media panel (25%), and the seven players honored as reserves from each conference will be selected by NBA head coaches. This year, the All-Stars will be selected without regard to position. The process for assigning players to the two U.S. teams will be determined at a later date.

If NBA All-Star voting does not result in the selection of 16 U.S. players and eight international players (which can include American players with ties to other countries if necessary), then NBA Commissioner Adam Silver will select additional All-Stars to join either group to reach that minimum. In that case, at least one team would have more than eight players.

In the round-robin tournament, Team A will play Team B in Game 1. The winning team from Game 1 will take on Team C in Game 2, followed by the losing team of Game 1 meeting Team C in Game 3.

After Game 3, the top two teams by record will advance to face each other in the championship game (Game 4). If all three teams have a 1-1 record after Game 3, the tiebreaker would be point differential in each team’s two round-robin games.

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NBA SALARY CAP FOR 2025-26 SEASON SET AT $154.647 MILLION

The National Basketball Association has announced that the Salary Cap has been set at $154.647 million for the 2025-26 season. The Tax Level for the 2025‑26 season is $187.895 million.

The Salary Cap and Tax Level go into effect at 12:01 a.m. ET on Tuesday, July 1. Teams are permitted to begin negotiating with all free agents today at 6:00 p.m. ET — six hours prior to the start of the league’s “moratorium period.” The moratorium period ends at noon ET on Sunday, July 6.

The Minimum Team Salary is $139.182 million for the 2025-26 season.
The First Apron Level is $195.945 million for the 2025-26 season.
The Second Apron Level is $207.824 million for the 2025-26 season.

The Collective Bargaining Agreement provides for three different Mid-Level Exceptions depending on a team’s salary level. The Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level for the 2025-26 season is $14.104 million, the Taxpayer Mid-Level is $5.685 million, and the Mid-Level for a team with room under the Salary Cap is $8.781 million.

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Order of Selection Set for NBA Draft 2025

The Dallas Mavericks today won NBA Draft Lottery 2025, which was conducted at the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago. The Mavericks will have the first overall pick in NBA Draft 2025, which will be held Wednesday, June 25 (First Round) and Thursday, June 26 (Second Round) at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Below are the results from NBA Draft Lottery 2025.

1. Dallas
2. San Antonio
3. Philadelphia
4. Charlotte
5. Utah
6. Washington
7. New Orleans
8. Brooklyn
9. Toronto
10. Houston (from Phoenix via Brooklyn)
11. Portland
12. Chicago
13. Atlanta (from Sacramento)
14. San Antonio (from Atlanta)

Below is the order for the remainder of the first round of NBA Draft 2025:

15. Oklahoma City (from Miami via the LA Clippers)
16. Orlando
17. Minnesota (from Detroit via New York, Oklahoma City, and Houston)
18. Washington (from Memphis)
19. Brooklyn (from Milwaukee via New York, Detroit, Portland, and New Orleans)
20. Miami (from Golden State)
21. Utah (from Minnesota)
22. Atlanta (from the Los Angeles Lakers via New Orleans)
23. Indiana
24. Oklahoma City (from the LA Clippers)
25. Orlando (from Denver)
26. Brooklyn (from New York)
27. Brooklyn (from Houston)
28. Boston
29. Phoenix (from Cleveland via Utah)
30. LA Clippers (from Oklahoma City)

Note: The draft order above assumes that a team with the right to swap one pick for another exercises such right only if it is favorable to do so.

Below is the order for the second round of NBA Draft 2025:

31. Minnesota (from Utah)
32. Boston (from Washington via Detroit and Brooklyn)
33. Charlotte
34. Charlotte (from New Orleans via San Antonio, Phoenix, and Memphis)
35. Philadelphia
36. Brooklyn
37. Detroit (from Toronto via Dallas and San Antonio)
38. San Antonio
39. Toronto (from Portland via Sacramento)
40. Washington (from Phoenix)
41. Golden State (from Miami via Brooklyn and Indiana)
42. Sacramento (from Chicago via San Antonio)
43. Utah (from Dallas)
44. Oklahoma City (from Atlanta)
45. Chicago (from Sacramento)
46. Orlando
47. Milwaukee (from Detroit via Washington)
48. Memphis (from Golden State via Washington and Brooklyn)
49. Cleveland (from Milwaukee)
50. New York (from Memphis via Oklahoma City and Boston)
51. LA Clippers (from Minnesota via Atlanta and Houston)
52. Phoenix (from Denver via Charlotte and Minnesota)
53. Utah (from the LA Clippers via the Los Angeles Lakers)
54. Indiana
55. Los Angeles Lakers

— New York (forfeited)

56. Memphis (from Houston)
57. Orlando (from Boston)
58. Cleveland
59. Houston (from Oklahoma City via Atlanta)

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NAISMITH BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES NINE INDUCTEES FOR THE CLASS OF 2025

The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame has revealed the Class of 2025, featuring nine inductees who will be celebrated during the Enshrinement festivities on September 5-6. The announcement took place in San Antonio, host city of the 2025 NCAA Men’s Final Four, and was broadcast live on ESPN2.

“The Hall of Fame is thrilled to celebrate the Class of 2025, a group that has left a profound mark on the sport at every level,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. “This year’s class embodies excellence, innovation, and an enduring passion for basketball—whether through game-changing performances, leadership on the sidelines, or shaping the sport’s global reach. We look forward to honoring this Class and their lasting contributions to the game.”

The Class of 2025 will be enshrined during festivities in Springfield, Mass., the Birthplace of Basketball, as well as at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn., on September 5-6.

North American Committee

2008 US OLYMPIC MEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM [Team] – The 2008 United States men’s Olympic basketball team restored USA Basketball to global prominence under the leadership of Managing Director Jerry Colangelo, who rebuilt the program by securing multi-year commitments from NBA players. Capturing gold in Beijing with a perfect 8-0 record and average victory margin of 27.9 points, the squad featured co-captains Kobe Bryant, Jason Kidd, and Dwyane Wade, alongside LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Dwight Howard, and Chris Bosh under Hall of Fame head coach Mike Krzyzewski. The team, which earned its ‘Redeem Team’ moniker after USA’s bronze medal finish in 2004, defeated Spain 118-107 in the gold medal game.

CARMELO ANTHONY [Player] – A 10-time NBA All-Star, Anthony was one of the most prolific scorers of his generation during his 19-year NBA career (2003-22). Selected third overall by the Denver Nuggets in 2003 after leading Syracuse to its first NCAA national championship in basketball as a freshman and earning Final Four Most Outstanding Player honors, Anthony averaged 22.5 points per game in his career and ranks 10th all-time in NBA scoring with 28,289 points. He earned All-NBA honors six times and won three Olympic gold medals (2008, ’12, ’16) as a key member of Team USA. Anthony led the NBA in scoring in 2012-13 (28.7). Anthony was named to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team in 2021.

DANNY CRAWFORD [Referee] – One of the NBA’s most respected officials over his 32-year career (1985-2017), Crawford officiated over 2,000 regular season games, 300 playoff games, and 30 NBA Finals contests. He was selected to work the NBA Finals in 23 consecutive seasons, including his final game—Game 5 of the 2017 NBA Finals. Crawford worked many of the league’s most significant games, including the 1992 Dream Team’s first Olympic contest and multiple NBA All-Star Games. He served as a referee in the Missouri Valley Conference prior to making his NBA debut.

BILLY DONOVAN [Coach] – Donovan is a two-time NCAA national champion coach who achieved unparalleled success during his tenure at the University of Florida (1996-2015). He guided the Gators to consecutive national titles in 2006 and ‘07 and four Final Four appearances while recording over 500 total victories at Florida and Marshall (1994-96). After his collegiate success, Donovan transitioned to the NBA, coaching the Oklahoma City Thunder (2015-20) and Chicago Bulls (2020-present) to over 400 wins. The former Providence College point guard under Hall of Famer Rick Pitino was named SEC Coach of the Year three times and was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016.

DWIGHT HOWARD [Player] – A dominant force on both ends of the court, Howard was an eight-time All-Star, three-time Defensive Player of the Year (2009-11), and earned eight All-NBA selections during his 18-year career. Known as “Superman,” he led the NBA in rebounding five times and blocks twice, ranking 10th all-time in NBA history in rebounds (14,627) and 13th in blocks (2,228). Howard led the Orlando Magic to the 2009 NBA Finals and later won a championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020. The 2008 Olympic gold medalist was the first overall pick by the Orlando Magic in the 2004 NBA Draft out of high school.

Women’s Committee

SUE BIRD [Player] – Widely regarded as one of the greatest point guards in basketball history, Bird is a four-time WNBA champion (2004, ’10, ’18, ’20) who played 21 seasons with the Seattle Storm (2002-22). A record 13-time All-Star, Bird was recognized as one of the 25 greatest players in league history during the WNBA’s W25 celebration in 2021. She is the WNBA’s all-time leader in wins (333), games played (580), assists (3,234), and minutes (18,079) and earned All-WNBA First-Team accolades on five occasions. Internationally, Bird won five Olympic gold medals and is a five-time FIBA World Cup medalist with Team USA. At UConn, Bird led the Huskies to two NCAA titles (2000, ‘02), won the Naismith Player of the Year award in 2002, and was the first overall pick in the 2002 WNBA Draft.

SYLVIA FOWLES [Player] – A four-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time WNBA champion with the Minnesota Lynx (2015, ‘17), Fowles earned Finals MVP honors in both title runs. She retired as the WNBA’s all-time leading rebounder (4,006) and was honored as part of the WNBA’s W25 celebration in 2021. The 2017 WNBA MVP was an eight-time All-Star and four-time Defensive Player of the Year (2011, ‘13, ‘16, ‘21) and finished her 15-year career averaging 15.7 points and 9.8 rebounds. Fowles was selected second overall in the 2008 draft after a stellar career at LSU, where she led the Tigers to four consecutive Final Four appearances. Fowles, who has her No. 34 retired by LSU and the Lynx.

MAYA MOORE [Player] – Moore led the Minnesota Lynx to four WNBA championships (2011, ‘13, ‘15, ‘17) during her seven-season career (2011-18) before stepping away from basketball to focus on criminal justice reform. A six-time All-Star, she also earned WNBA MVP honors in 2014 and Finals MVP in 2013 and was named to the All-WNBA First Team five times. Moore was also recognized as one of the 25 greatest players in league history during the WNBA’s W25 celebration in 2021. The first overall pick in the 2011 WNBA Draft, Moore starred at UConn, winning a pair of Naismith Women’s College Player of the Year honors (2009, ‘11) and leading the Huskies to back-to-back undefeated seasons (2008-09, 2009-10) and two NCAA national championships. Internationally, she captured two Olympic gold medals (2012, 2016) and two FIBA World Cup golds (2014, ‘18).

Contributor Committee

MICKY ARISON – Since acquiring the Miami Heat in 1995, Arison has led the franchise to three NBA championships (2006, ’12, ’13) and seven Eastern Conference titles. Under his ownership, the Heat have featured legendary players like Hall of Famers Ray Allen, Chris Bosh, Tim Hardaway, Alonzo Mourning, Shaquille O’Neal, Gary Payton, and Dwyane Wade, and current superstars LeBron James and Jimmy Butler. With Arison as owner, Pat Riley as team president, and Erik Spoelstra as head coach, the organization has become renowned for its culture of stability and success. Arison’s influence extends beyond the court through his philanthropic work and dedication to the Miami community.

Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was born, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting, preserving, and celebrating the game of basketball at every level – men and women, amateur and professional players, coaches, and contributors, both domestically and internationally. The Hall of Fame museum is home to more than 475 inductees and over 40,000 square feet of basketball history. Nearly 200,000 people visit the Hall of Fame museum each year to learn about the game, experience the interactive exhibits, and test their skills on the Jerry Colangelo “Court of Dreams.” Best known for its annual marquee Enshrinement Ceremony honoring the game’s elite, the Hall of Fame also operates over 70 high school and collegiate competitions annually throughout the country and abroad.

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